TikTok needs a US buyer so bad it might seek out Elon Musk

Americans are going to lose access to TikTok in less than a week, unless China green-lights a sale to what Congress has deemed a non-adversary of the United States — something China is unlikely to do but might. In theory.

Americans are going to lose access to TikTok in less than a week, unless China green-lights a sale to what Congress has deemed a non-adversary of the United States — something China is unlikely to do but might. In theory. There are a few scenarios floating around as we barrel toward the January 19 deadline, including one that would hand control of TikTok’s US operations to your weird uncle’s favorite MAGA oligarch, Elon Musk. See here: Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese officials are weighing a scenario in which TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, would spin off the app’s US operations to Musk, an investor they already know and who has already made a mark on the social media world by gutting one of the most influential sites ever created. To be clear: CNN couldn’t independently confirm Bloomberg or the Journal’s reporting; TikTok batted down the speculation, and ByteDance has previously said the app is not for sale. But such a tie-up could make sense, at least on paper, for a few reasons: TikTok fans would be wise to keep the Champagne on ice, however. It is far from clear whether Musk would be able to strike a deal that satisfies all stakeholders by Congress’ deadline — or whether such a sale could overcome regulatory hurdles, Emarketer senior analyst Minda Smiley wrote in an email Tuesday.