Elon Musk Rules Out TikTok Acquisition, Reiterates “Build-From-Scratch” Philosophy
In a pointed rebuke of swirling acquisition rumors, Elon Musk has confirmed that he has no interest in buying TikTok’s US operations. Speaking via video at a conference in Berlin hosted by AxelSpringer CEO Mathias Doepfner, Musk made his stance clear: “I have not put in a bid for TikTok,” he stated, adding, “I don’t have any plans for what I would do if I had TikTok.”
Musk, who famously purchased Twitter—now rebranded as X—in 2022, emphasized that his business strategy rarely involves acquiring existing companies. “I’m not champing at the bit to acquire TikTok,” he said. “I usually build companies from scratch.”
His remarks suggest that the recent speculation linking him to a potential takeover of the popular social video app is simply unfounded.
The discussion comes at a time when TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance Ltd., finds itself under intense scrutiny in the United States. U.S. lawmakers and officials have long raised national security concerns about the app, fearing that user data might be exposed to foreign influence.
In response to these concerns, a law enacted last year forced ByteDance to either divest its American operations or face a ban from app stores—a deadline that was temporarily postponed by an executive order signed on President Trump’s first day in office.
Earlier reports had indicated that Chinese officials were weighing options that might pave the way for Musk—widely recognized as the world’s richest person and a close ally of former President Donald Trump—to acquire TikTok’s US business. One scenario even envisioned Musk’s platform X partnering with TikTok to fend off a looming ban. However, Musk’s recent comments firmly dispel any such possibility.
Reflecting on his controversial purchase of Twitter, Musk noted that his acquisition was a “rare exception” driven by his commitment to preserving freedom of speech. “Buying Twitter was something I did to uphold the principle of free expression,” he explained. “But acquiring TikTok purely for economic reasons doesn’t align with how I operate.”
Meanwhile, former President Trump has kept the conversation alive by suggesting alternative pathways for TikTok’s future in the United States.
Trump has recalled the app’s role in engaging younger voters and hinted that a joint venture—possibly involving Musk or Oracle Corp. Chairman Larry Ellison—could emerge if ByteDance fails to meet the divestiture requirements. In line with this thinking, Trump recently signed another executive order aimed at establishing a U.S. sovereign wealth fund that could help facilitate a deal for TikTok’s American business.
As regulatory pressures continue and the deadline for ByteDance’s divestiture draws nearer, the fate of TikTok in the United States remains shrouded in uncertainty. For now, Musk’s unequivocal dismissal of any bid underscores his long-standing belief in charting his own course—reinforcing that, when it comes to his business ventures, he prefers to innovate from the ground up rather than take over existing platforms.