Company calls report of possible sale to Elon Musk “pure fiction”

TikTok has called a report that China is considering allowing a sale of the social media company’s US operations to Elon Musk “pure fiction”.

The company’s comments came in response to a report by Bloomberg that Chinese officials are considering an option that could see the company’s American business sold to the world’s richest person if the US Supreme Court upholds a ban on the app.

Supreme Court justices are set to rule on a law that set a January 19 deadline for TikTok to either sell its US operations or face a ban in the country.

TikTok has repeatedly said it will not sell its US operation.

“We cannot be expected to comment on pure fiction,” a TikTok spokesperson told BBC News.

Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that one possible scenario being considered by Chinese officials would see Musk’s X social media platform take control of TikTok’s US operations.

X did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment.

Musk is a close ally of US President Donald Trumpwho will return to the White House on January 20.

Last month, Trump urged the Supreme Court to delay his decision until he takes office to enable him to seek a “political solution”.

His lawyer filed a lawsuit in court that says Trump “opposes banning TikTok” and “seeks the opportunity to address the current issues through political means once he takes office.”

It came a week after Trump met TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

On Monday, two Democratic lawmakers, Sen. Edward Markey and Rep. Ro Khanna, also called on Congress and President Joe Biden to extend the Jan. 19 deadline.

During a Supreme Court hearing last week, justices appeared inclined to uphold the law and stick to the deadline.

During nearly three hours of arguments, the nine justices returned again and again to the national security concerns that gave rise to the law.

The Biden administration has argued that without a sale, TikTok could be used by China as a tool for espionage and political manipulation.

The company has repeatedly denied any influence from the Chinese Communist Party and has said the law to ban it in the United States violates its users’ First Amendment freedom of speech.