Musk rejects TikTok buyout, slams DEI as ‘racism rebranded’

Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and key advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, has dismissed speculation about acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations, stating he has no interest in the platform. His comments, made via videolink at a German forum in late January, were released over the weekend.

File Source: NZ Herald

“I’ve not put in a bid for TikTok and I don’t have any plans for what I would do if I had TikTok,” Musk stated. Despite facing a U.S. law that mandates its separation from Chinese parent company ByteDance or a potential ban, TikTok remains operational after Trump paused the enforcement of the law upon reentering office. While Trump later suggested Musk as a potential buyer, the billionaire declined.

“I don’t use TikTok personally, so, you know, I’m not that familiar with it,” he said. “I’m not chomping at the bit to acquire TikTok.”

Musk’s social media influence skyrocketed after acquiring Twitter—now rebranded as X—for $44 billion in 2022, claiming he did so to protect “free speech.” However, his leadership has been widely criticized, with rights groups warning of increased hate speech and disinformation on the platform.

Beyond social media, Musk plays a central role in Trump’s administration, spearheading aggressive cost-cutting measures through the newly established “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). His initiatives have targeted various federal agencies, aiming to slash budgets and remove employees seen as opposing Trump’s political agenda. On Saturday, a U.S. judge temporarily blocked Musk’s government reform team from accessing sensitive financial data of millions of Americans held by the Treasury Department.

During his appearance in Germany, Musk also took a hard stance against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, calling them a form of discrimination.

“DEI is simply racism rebranded,” he said. “I’m against racism and sexism no matter who it’s directed against.”

Trump’s administration has aggressively moved to dismantle DEI policies across federal agencies, eliminating grants, training programs, and sidelining employees involved in such initiatives.

Musk has also drawn controversy in Germany by voicing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party—an endorsement that breaks a longstanding political taboo in a country still reckoning with its Nazi history.