TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has reportedly consulted Elon Musk for insights on navigating potential U.S. tech policy shifts under the Trump administration, according to the Wall Street Journal. ByteDance executives remain cautiously optimistic about securing TikTok's future in the United States.
TikTok CEO Seeks Elon Musk's Advice Amid U.S. Challenges
According to a report published by the Wall Street Journal on Saturday, which cited individuals familiar with the situation, Shou Zi Chew, the Chief Executive Officer of TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, has reportedly sought Elon Musk's advice on matters pertaining to the United States. Musk is a close adviser to President-elect Donald Trump.
In recent weeks, Chew has been the one to initiate messages with the CEO of Tesla, asking for his thoughts on a variety of topics, including the incoming government and prospective policies regarding technology, according to the article.
Reuters' requests for comments were not immediately met by a response from Elon Musk, TikTok, ByteDance, or the administration of Donald Trump.
ByteDance Leadership Remains Optimistic Amid Uncertainty
Chew has kept ByteDance's senior leadership informed of the conversations, and executives are cautiously optimistic about finding a way forward. The Journal said that both executives have not discussed concrete methods to keep TikTok operational in the United States. Chew kept ByteDance's senior leadership informed of the talks.
In addition, the article stated that executives from ByteDance had been actively hedging their bets prior to the election in the United States by meeting with individuals who were close to both Trump and Kamala Harris, the Democratic contender for president.
Trump's Stance Could Influence TikTok's Future in the U.S.
Trump, who attempted to get TikTok banned in 2020 but was unsuccessful, has stated that he would not let TikTok to be banned if he were to be elected president in November.


Australian Scandium Project Backed by Richard Friedland Poised to Support U.S. Critical Minerals Stockpile
SpaceX Seeks FCC Approval for Massive Solar-Powered Satellite Network to Support AI Data Centers
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record
Jensen Huang Urges Taiwan Suppliers to Boost AI Chip Production Amid Surging Demand
Anthropic Eyes $350 Billion Valuation as AI Funding and Share Sale Accelerate
Google Cloud and Liberty Global Forge Strategic AI Partnership to Transform European Telecom Services
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination
Ford and Geely Explore Strategic Manufacturing Partnership in Europe
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock
SoftBank Shares Slide After Arm Earnings Miss Fuels Tech Stock Sell-Off
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility
Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports 



