Chinese officials are considering Elon Musk as a potential buyer for TikTok's US operations if the app faces a ban, according to sources familiar with the matter. The discussions are part of Beijing's broader contingency planning as officials prepare for negotiations with the incoming Trump administration.

EXCLUSIVE: Rumours Elon Musk could buy TikTok or broker a deal have swirled in recent days in a move that could transform the video-sharing platform and make both parties even more powerful, an expert has said.

After years of rejecting the idea of a sale of TikTok’s US assets to an American buyer in order to avert a ban, China and ByteDance may have found an owner they could live with: Elon Musk.