At the moment, TikTok is fighting for survival.

The Chinese-owned app has been locked in a monthslong legal battle over a law that will ban it in the U.S. on Jan. 19 if it hasn't cut ties with its parent company, ByteDance. The entire drama is headed for a final showdown next week, with the company planning to argue for its existence in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

But President-elect Donald Trump on Friday asked the court to pause the ban going into effect. Importantly, Trump didn't offer a definitive opinion on TikTok's ultimate fate. Rather, his request to the Supreme Court is an effort to let him play a role in TikTok's future. And that's why I think Elon Musk will make an offer to buy TikTok.