SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Spencer Cox has changed his mind and decided to endorse former President Donald Trump in his effort to return to the White House.
The governor's endorsement is a surprising about-face. In the past, Gov. Cox has been a vocal critic of Trump's — especially following January 6 and the U.S. Capitol riot. A few weeks ago, he said he would not vote for Trump and would instead write in someone else.
But on Friday, Gov. Cox told reporters at his monthly news conference on PBS he was endorsing Trump. It followed the assassination attempt on Trump last week.
"It was a very sobering moment. I spent the night distraught, worried about our nation and what we’ve become and who we are," the governor told reporters. "I spent the next day, Sunday, in contemplation, prayed a lot and felt I just, felt that I need to write a letter to the former president."
The letter, which was shared with FOX 13 News, acknowledged the governor's past disagreements with Trump but also said he had an opportunity.
"Your life was spared. Now, because of that miracle, you have the opportunity to do something that no other person on earth can do right now: unify and save our country," the governor wrote to Trump.
On Friday, Gov. Cox said the letter explains where his head and his heart are right now.
"My commitment to him is I would help him try to lower the temperature in this country," he said. "I sincerely hope, from what I’ve heard from people around him, that he’s committed to this that again this is something that hasn’t been high on his list in the past. I think that’s probably an understatement and so I’ll work closely with him to help do that."
Pressed on whether he would, in fact, vote for Trump this election, the governor told FOX 13 News: "Yeah."
Gov. Cox has made an effort to push back on political polarization, launching an initiative called "Disagree Better" which has sought to find common ground and friendlier debate instead of the intense political rhetoric often seen on a national level. He has warned in the past of the potential for political violence. The governor acknowledged Trump hasn't been great when it comes to disagreeing better, but hoped he has turned a page.
Utah has had a complicated relationship with Trump and his faction of the Republican party. While a majority red state, Trump hasn't performed as well as other GOP presidential candidates. Mainstream Utah GOP voters have expressed distaste with some of his rhetoric while still supporting some of the former president's policies.
"I'm doing everything I can to help and support him. We’ll still have lots of disagreements, I’m sure, and we’ll still do everything we can to help the state of Utah and help the Republican party be successful," Gov. Cox said of Trump. "I’m a proud conservative. I’m a little different conservative than maybe the party is today. I always considered myself a Ronald Reagan conservative and certainly there’s some differences between that and the party and I’m trying to be open and to learn from people who have different ideas within the party."
Utah's governor is not the only one to come around on Trump. Former Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz did, as did Senator Mike Lee. On the other hand, Sen. Mitt Romney voted to impeach Trump.
Senate President J. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, was involved in Trump's re-election campaign efforts in Utah in 2020. He then switched support last year and got behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. On Friday, the Senate President told FOX 13 News he was supporting Trump again.
"We need a strong leader. I think President Trump is that strong leader. It’s great to see everybody coming together, uniting," he said.
Gov. Cox's Democratic challenger for election, Brian King, issued a scathing statement.
"After publicly declaring just days ago that he would not vote for Donald Trump this November, Governor Cox has now kissed the ring and given his full endorsement to Trump, a convicted felon," he wrote. "This is the same Trump who, just last night, called for mass deportations and lied about the 2020 election results. You deserve a governor who won’t leave you wondering if today’s the day he’ll have the political courage to do what’s right, or if he’ll continue pandering to outside pressure, special interests, donors, and extremists in his party. This is another example of Governor Cox not sticking to principles but going where the wind blows him."
Read the governor's letter here:
