TikTok CEO Asks Elon Musk For Help Amid Trump Administration Pressure

TikTok CEO Shou Chew has reportedly reached out to Elon Musk for advice, leveraging Musk’s close relationship with President-elect Donald Trump, Fortune’s Data Sheet reported.

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, faces a Jan. 19 deadline to sell the platform or face a ban in the U.S. I Photo: Lukasz Kobus, European Commission

The two have known each other for years, and despite Musk owning the rival social media platform X, Chew sought his insights on issues ranging from the incoming Trump administration’s policies to broader tech industry concerns.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the recent conversations did not include specific strategies for TikTok’s U.S. operations.

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, faces a Jan. 19 deadline to sell the platform or face a ban in the U.S. While Trump attempted to ban TikTok during his first term, he has reportedly opposed the law signed earlier this year enforcing such restrictions.

Sources told the Washington Post that Trump might work to block the ban, but Congress would need to pass new legislation for TikTok’s continued operation. ByteDance executives, briefed by Chew on the Musk discussions, remain cautiously optimistic.