The CEO of ByteDance-owned TikTok, Xu Ziqiu, sought input on US affairs from Elon Musk, a close adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The report added that Chiu began messaging with the Tesla CEO in recent weeks and asked for his opinions on topics ranging from the incoming administration to potential technology policy.
Elon Musk, TikTok, ByteDance and the Trump administration did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Both executives did not discuss specific measures to keep TikTok running in the United States, the newspaper reported, adding that Chew kept ByteDance’s senior leadership informed of the talks, with the executives cautiously optimistic about finding a way forward.
The report added that ByteDance executives were hedging their bets before the US elections, as they met with people close to Trump and people close to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Trump, who tried unsuccessfully to ban TikTok in 2020, has said that if elected in November he would not allow TikTok to be banned.
