TikTok CEO Reaches Out to Elon Musk for Insights on Trump Presidency: WSJ

TikTok CEO Shou Chew has reportedly sought advice from Elon Musk regarding the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The discussions centre on potential changes to U.S. tech policy under Trump’s administration.

TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew contacted Elon Musk to find out how Trump will approach the social platform in his second term. AP

Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), has been closely aligned with Trump since endorsing him last summer. Following the election, Musk stayed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and participated in high-profile calls with leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The reported outreach by Chew comes as TikTok faces significant political and legal challenges in the U.S. The company is suing the Biden administration over a law that could ban TikTok unless its parent company, China-based ByteDance, divests from the app by January. The legislation, signed by President Joe Biden, cites national security concerns over potential Chinese government access to user data and influence on the platform.

Elon Musk and ex-presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy were picked to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). AFP via Getty Images

ByteDance executives also reportedly contacted Vice President Kamala Harris’ team before the election to discuss the issue.

During his first term, Trump signed an executive order to ban TikTok but later softened his position. Earlier this year, he told CNBC that the decision to ban TikTok should be left to Congress, citing the complexity of the issue.

Trump has previously said “I’m gonna save TikTok.” AP

Despite maintaining national security concerns, Trump joined TikTok in June, where he declared in a video: “I’m gonna save TikTok.” He urged supporters to vote for him if they wanted to keep the app accessible in the U.S.

Sources told the Washington Post that Trump plans to halt the ban once he assumes office.

The collaboration between Chew and Musk highlights TikTok’s efforts to navigate the uncertain regulatory environment. Neither TikTok nor Trump’s office has responded to requests for comment from Fox Business.

As the second Trump administration approaches, the fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains a contentious issue, reflecting broader tensions between Washington and Beijing over technology and security.