Elon Musk has clarified that he has no intention of purchasing TikTok, the widely popular social video app embroiled in U.S. national security concerns due to its Chinese ownership. Musk made the remarks during a conference in Germany last month, hosted by Mathias Döpfner, CEO of German media conglomerate Axel Springer. This marks Musk’s first public statement on the topic of acquiring TikTok.
“I have not put in a bid for TikTok,” Musk said during the remote video appearance, which was published by Die Welt on Saturday. “I don’t have any plans for what I would do if I had TikTok.” Musk added that he does not personally use the app and emphasized that acquiring Twitter (now rebranded as X) in 2022 was an exception to his usual approach of building companies from the ground up. He described the Twitter purchase as an effort to “preserve freedom of speech.”
The comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd., over fears that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government. In January, Bloomberg reported that Chinese officials were exploring scenarios that could allow Musk, the world’s richest person and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations if the app faced a ban. One potential plan involved Musk’s X platform taking control of TikTok’s U.S. business and operating it jointly.
Trump’s TikTok Reversal and Potential Sale Scenarios
The debate over TikTok’s future in the U.S. has been a contentious issue for years. On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order temporarily halting a forced sale or shutdown of the app, granting ByteDance additional time to negotiate a deal. The move followed Trump’s inauguration, which was attended by ByteDance CEO Shou Zi Chew.
Trump, who initially supported banning TikTok over national security concerns, later reversed his stance after the app played a significant role in engaging younger voters during his campaign. “We won the young vote. I think I won it through TikTok, so I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” Trump said.
While ByteDance has publicly refused to sell TikTok, potential buyers remain hopeful that a Supreme Court ruling supporting a national security law could compel the company to reconsider. However, any sale would require approval from the Chinese government, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Musk’s AI Ambitions and Competition with DeepSeek
During the Axel Springer interview, Musk also discussed his ambitions in artificial intelligence, particularly his aim to compete with DeepSeek, an AI chatbot developed by a Chinese software company. DeepSeek’s AI models, which offer performance comparable to other chatbots at a lower cost, have disrupted the tech industry, prompting investors to reevaluate spending by major players like Meta and Microsoft.
Musk dismissed the notion that DeepSeek represents an AI revolution, stating, “xAI and others will soon be releasing models that are better than DeepSeek.” He referenced his own AI company, xAI, as part of his broader strategy to advance AI technology.
Advocating for Regulatory Reform and Cultural Preservation
Musk also used the platform to advocate for regulatory reform, suggesting that Germany adopt a process similar to his efforts with the Department of Government Efficiency in the U.S. He described the elimination of unnecessary regulations as a “war” but emphasized the importance of achieving efficiency without conflict.
Additionally, Musk reiterated his support for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, citing alignment on issues such as immigration controls and freedom of speech. He addressed criticism of his previous comments at an AfD rally, where he urged Germans to move past historical guilt and take pride in their cultural heritage. “What I’m not saying is that Nazism should be ignored. I never said that. But I am saying the tremendous cultural history of Germany is incredible,” Musk clarified.
Musk also expressed concerns about declining birth rates and the potential erosion of cultural diversity due to globalization. “With multiculturalism and globalism, we’re seeing the dilution of individual cultures,” he said. “Every place will be the same, and there won’t be any unique cultures in the world.”
Looking Ahead
As Musk continues to focus on his ventures in AI, social media, and regulatory advocacy, his comments on TikTok and cultural preservation underscore his broader vision for technology and society. While he has ruled out acquiring TikTok for now, the evolving landscape of national security, AI competition, and global cultural dynamics ensures that Musk will remain a central figure in these debates.
