TikTok CEO Seeks Guidance from Elon Musk on Trump’s Second Term

As the United States prepares for Donald Trump’s second term as president, TikTok CEO Shou Chew is reportedly seeking insight from Elon Musk on how the new administration may impact the social media landscape. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Chew has reached out to Musk multiple times to discuss Trump’s potential technology and regulatory policies.

This outreach follows a period of heightened scrutiny for TikTok, which is currently suing the Biden administration over a new law that could ban the platform in the U.S. unless its parent company, China-based ByteDance, divests its ownership by January 2025.

Musk and Trump: A Growing Alliance

Elon Musk, owner of the social platform X (formerly Twitter), has maintained a close relationship with President-elect Trump. Musk publicly endorsed Trump during the 2024 election and has remained involved in Trump’s transition process. Reports indicate that Musk has even stayed at Mar-a-Lago after the election and joined Trump in calls with foreign leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This growing alliance could prove pivotal for TikTok as it faces ongoing regulatory challenges in the United States. ByteDance executives had previously reached out to Vice President Kamala Harris’s team before the election, but the shift in leadership may alter the company’s strategy as it attempts to avoid a U.S. ban.

TikTok’s Legal Battle with the Biden Administration

The incoming Trump administration inherits an ongoing lawsuit filed by TikTok against the Biden administration, claiming that Biden’s new law violates the First Amendment. The law, signed by President Biden, aims to force ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban on TikTok.

The core of the U.S. government’s concern is that China’s government could access U.S. user data and exert influence through TikTok’s algorithm. These security concerns have fueled calls for tighter restrictions on Chinese-owned tech platforms operating in the United States.

However, Trump’s approach toward TikTok appears to have shifted. While he previously signed an executive order to ban TikTok during his first presidency, he later suggested that Congress should make that decision. In a CNBC interview, Trump stated, “That’s a tough decision to make, and Congress should be the one to decide.”

Trump’s Surprising Move to Join TikTok

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump surprised many by creating a TikTok account in June 2024. In his first post on the platform, Trump declared:

“Those who want to save TikTok in America, vote for Trump.”

He later added, “I’m gonna save TikTok.”

This statement drew significant attention, as Trump’s past position on banning TikTok had been well-documented. The move to join TikTok was viewed as a political strategy to appeal to younger voters while also giving him a platform to engage with an audience that skews younger than users of X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

What’s Next for TikTok?

With Howard Lutnick — a known ally of Trump and a crypto-friendly advocate — set to become Secretary of Commerce, there is growing speculation that Trump may attempt to halt the TikTok ban. Reports from the Washington Post suggest that the incoming administration is already exploring ways to reverse the ByteDance divestiture requirement.

With Chew reportedly consulting Elon Musk, TikTok appears to be seeking insight on how the Trump administration’s policies on social media, privacy, and data security will impact its future. If Trump follows through on his campaign message to “save TikTok”, it could mark a major policy shift compared to the Biden administration’s hardline stance on the app.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether TikTok’s strategy of seeking support from Musk and Trump will yield tangible results. Given the complex web of legal, privacy, and regulatory concerns, TikTok’s future in the United States may once again become a high-profile issue in Trump’s presidency.