Trump Open to Elon Musk Buying TikTok Amid U.S.-China Tensions

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated he supports Tesla CEO Elon Musk buying TikTok, the popular short-video app used by 170 million Americans. TikTok was temporarily taken offline in the U.S. as a law requiring its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the platform or face a ban came into effect on Sunday.

Bloomberg reported that Chinese officials and Musk were in early talks regarding the potential sale, though TikTok denied these claims. Trump signed an executive order delaying enforcement of the law by 75 days, citing national security concerns over American user data being handled by ByteDance. The company maintains that its U.S. user data is stored on Oracle-operated servers in the United States and insists that content moderation is managed domestically.

When asked about Musk's potential acquisition, Trump told reporters, "I would be, if he wanted to buy it," adding that buyers should consider sharing profits with the U.S. government. Musk, owner of social media platform X, has expressed opposition to banning TikTok, stating it infringes on free speech. However, he criticized the lack of reciprocity, noting that while TikTok operates freely in the U.S., X is barred from China. Musk previously spent over $250 million supporting Trump in his presidential campaign.

TikTok remained unavailable for download on Apple and Android devices in the U.S. as of Tuesday. Free speech advocates have opposed the ban, arguing it restricts open expression. The situation underscores broader tensions between the U.S. and China over technology and data security.

This development highlights ongoing debates surrounding data privacy, free speech, and the future of U.S.-China tech relations.