Elon Musk has dismissed speculation that he plans to buy TikTok, the popular short-video app facing a potential US ban over security concerns. 

Speaking at a virtual summit hosted by The WELT Group, a part of the German media company Axel Springer SE, in late January, Musk clarified, "I have not put in a bid for TikTok. I don't have any plans for what I would do if I had TikTok."

Musk added that he doesn't use the app and generally avoids acquisitions. "I'm not eager to acquire TikTok. I usually build companies from scratch," he said, citing his $44 billion purchase of Twitter (now X) as a rare exception.

His comments come as US lawmakers push for action against TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, over alleged security risks. President Donald Trump recently delayed a ban on the app and hinted at interest from potential US buyers, including Musk. However, ByteDance insists it has no plans to sell TikTok.

With TikTok now removed from US app stores, the platform has begun offering Android users direct downloads from its website. The app, with 170 million US users, remains at the centre of a heated debate over ownership and data security.