After the attempted murder, Utah Governor Spencer Cox backs Donald Trump, even though he has been skeptical for a long time.
Former President Donald Trump now has the official backing of Utah Governor Spencer Cox. Cox was one of the few Republicans still in statewide office who had not yet backed Trump. Cox had never voted for Trump and had even called for his removal after the January 6 attack on the Capitol. He was known for being skeptical of the president. But recent events have caused him to change his mind in a big way.
During a news conference on Friday, Cox said, “I am doing everything I can to help and support him.” This meant that he was endorsing Trump. I’m sure we’ll still argue a lot, but we’ll still do everything we can to help Utah and the Republican Party succeed. Cox had previously said that he would vote for Trump in the upcoming election, so this support was a big change from what he had said before.
“Utah Governor Spencer Cox Endorses Trump After Surviving Assassination Attempt, Marking a Significant Shift in Stance”
Trump officially accepted the Republican nomination the day before the support. It was also almost a week after a dramatic attempt on his life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The next day after what happened, Cox sent Trump a letter in secret to show his support. Cox wrote in the letter—which POLITICO got and which was first reported by Deseret News—that he thought Trump’s escape was nothing less than a “miracle.” He said, “I humbly submit that you — and I sincerely mean this — only you — can unify the country.”
In his message, Cox also admitted that they did not agree with each other. He wrote, “Mr. President, I know we do not agree with each other and you probably don’t like me very much.” That’s fine. I get it. I’m not writing this letter to ask to join your team or become part of your Cabinet. But I’ve liked a lot of your ideas, and I’ve told everyone that you’ll win Utah and the presidency again.
Cox has usually taken a more moderate stance, so this newfound backing is a big change for him. He told POLITICO last month, “I’m not against Trump, but I really don’t like some of the things he’s done. I love some of the things he’s done.” Before the attempted murder, Cox made it clear how he planned to vote by telling CNN, “This year I’m not going to vote for either presidential candidate.” Like I’ve done before, I’ll write someone in.
It’s been hard to pin down Cox’s feelings about Trump. While on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on January 11, 2021, he spoke out against the former president after the riot at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, saying, “I certainly think it would be good for the nation if [Trump] were willing to resign.” This statement showed how deeply he felt about Trump’s deeds and the way he leads.
Even though he had been critical in the past, the attempt on Cox’s life seems to have been a turning point. His support for Trump shows that he shares Trump’s realistic view that the country needs unity and good leadership in this unstable political climate. As the political environment changes, Cox’s support for Trump shows how the Republican Party works as a whole and how hard it is to balance different political beliefs.