As TikTok's legal options to avoid a US ban dwindle, Chinese officials are reportedly exploring a backup plan, which includes considering Elon Musk as a potential broker or buyer for the popular social media app. This development comes after the Supreme Court appeared unlikely to save TikTok from the ban, prompting China to reassess its stance on a potential sale.

Multiple news outlets, including the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg, have cited unnamed sources indicating that Chinese officials are discussing the possibility of a sale, with Musk's involvement being seen as a strategic move. Musk's relationships with both China and President-elect Donald Trump make him an attractive candidate to facilitate a deal. As the richest man in the world, Musk also has the financial resources to make a deal happen.

TikTok's spokesperson, Michael Hughes, has dismissed the reports as "pure fiction," while the Chinese embassy in the US and Musk's company, X, have not responded to requests for comment. However, the news suggests a significant shift in China's stance, as the country had previously stated it would refuse to approve a sale of TikTok.

Musk's potential involvement in a deal makes sense, given his experience dealing with Chinese authorities and his desire to make X more like TikTok. He could potentially merge TikTok with X and xAI, his OpenAI competitor, to create a more influential platform. Long Le, an international business professor at Santa Clara University, suggests that China may be open to a joint venture arrangement, similar to what foreign companies operating in China often undergo.

Under this scenario, Musk's involvement could provide a way for the US and China to maintain some aspects of linkage to trade and foreign direct investment, despite the ongoing decoupling. Le notes that having someone like Musk involved would still allow the US and China to have some connection, even if the deal goes through.

However, China may still hold off on a sale if it believes the US will let TikTok remain under ByteDance's ownership, especially given the app's significant global influence. The Chinese government may be unwilling to suffer the optics of handing TikTok over to the US, and may prefer to let the US take heat globally over the ban, even if it means the loss of a significant market for TikTok.

The situation is further complicated by the incoming Trump administration, which has promised exorbitant tariffs on Chinese imports. Chinese officials see a deal over TikTok as a possible area of collaboration with the US, which could help mitigate the impact of these tariffs. Sources told Bloomberg that Chinese officials are looking for an effective bargaining chip with Trump and the US, and TikTok could be the key.

If TikTok is ultimately banned, it's unclear how quickly users would feel the effects. Apple and Google would need to remove the app from their app stores and stop updating it, while Oracle, which provides cloud infrastructure to TikTok in the US, would likely also be required to stop hosting the app's data. Users could still access TikTok using virtual private networks (VPNs), but this would add an extra layer of friction.

Despite the uncertainty, progress toward a deal could continue after the ban takes effect on Sunday, unless the Supreme Court stops it or Congress or President Joe Biden extend the deadline. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: Elon Musk's potential involvement has added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing saga of TikTok's future in the US.