TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew has reportedly been in contact with Elon Musk, seeking insights into the U.S. political landscape as the video-sharing platform faces increasing scrutiny. Musk, who owns the social media platform X and maintains close ties with President-elect Trump, is seen by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, as a potential bridge to the incoming administration. While the discussions have not included explicit strategies for keeping TikTok operational in the U.S., ByteDance executives are cautiously optimistic about the prospect of finding a path forward amidst looming national security concerns.

This outreach comes at a pivotal moment as TikTok faces a potential ban under a law requiring ByteDance to divest from the platform by mid-January, a mandate Chew has publicly challenged. Proponents of the law argue it safeguards Americans from surveillance and foreign influence, while TikTok maintains it would resist any such demands from the Chinese government. The company has filed a federal lawsuit contesting the legislation, with a court decision expected by early December. ByteDance, meanwhile, has ruled out selling TikTok's U.S. operations, focusing instead on legal and diplomatic maneuvers to secure its future.