Elon Musk rages at deep state puppet Sen. Young, then does U-turn after phone call: Will be a great ally

Billionaire tech magnate Elon Musk made an abrupt U-turn and lauded Sen.Todd Young as a “great ally” hours after initially accusing him of being a “deep state puppet” on Sunday.

Musk, 53, had seemingly erupted against Young (R-Ind.), 52, over his tough questioning of director of national intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard during her confirmation hearing last week.“Todd Young is a deep state puppet,” Musk chided around noon ET in a since-deleted X post that came in response to a user criticizing Young’s ties to the National Endowment for Democracy, a nongovernmental organization that promotes democracy around the world.The user had suggested Young’s involvement with NED poses conflicts of interest with his forthcoming vote on Gabbard, 43, and claimed that the senator was against her.

Young has not publicly committed either way on Gabbard.Some beltway observers quickly surmised that Musk’s attack against Young could complicate efforts to get him to support Gabbard.About two hours later, Musk reversed sources and praised Young.

“Just had an excellent conversation with @SenToddYoung.I stand corrected.

Senator Young will be a great ally in restoring power to the people from the vast, unelected bureaucracy,” he wrote on X.Young caused a stir last week when he pressed Gabbard on a range of key policy flashpoints during the open portion of her hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee.The panel also had a closed-door classified session with Gabbard.“It would befit you and be helpful to the way you are perceived by members of the intelligence committee if you at least acknowledge that the greatest whistleblower in American security, so-called, harmed national security,” Young said at one point, referencing NSA leaker Edward Snowden.The Indiana Republican seemed visibly perturbed by Gabbard’s answers on Snowden.

Young also took note of Snowden’s social media posts prior to the hearing in which he urged Gabbard to attack him in order t...