Utah Governor Spencer Cox discusses his hopes following the 2024 assassination attempt against President Donald Trump in his book, Off Ramp. He wished for a reduction in political tension, aiming to break what he describes as cycles of retaliation and contempt. However, Cox expresses disappointment as events unfolded differently, making him feel as though he had failed in his pursuit. His efforts focused on building relationships with Trump and former President Joe Biden to reduce political polarization.
Cox believes America is at a critical point concerning political conflict and hatred; he argues that peacemaking is a complex and gradual process, rather than an immediate transformation of political opponents. In his book, he states, “The problem is that we aren’t just disagreeing with each other; we’re despising each other.” Cox emphasizes the political danger lies in contempt, not disagreement.
Near Assassination and Calls for Unity
Following a gunman’s attack during a July 2024 Trump rally in Pennsylvania, Cox saw potential for change. He drafted a letter urging Trump to seize the moment to unify America. Cox recognized Trump’s dislike for him and noted he had not endorsed Trump previously, yet believed in Trump’s potential as a unifying leader.
Cox made efforts to support Trump and align on various issues, while still differing in approaches to political discourse. This led to an Oval Office meeting discussing topics like immigration reform and environmental efforts for Utah’s Great Salt Lake. Despite these efforts, Cox’s hopes for Trump to embrace unity over retaliation did not materialize as expected.
Cox also tried to convince President Biden to pardon Trump in a bid to heal national divides. Although Biden appeared interested, he ultimately decided against it, citing public demand for justice as a decisive factor.
The Impact of Charlie Kirk’s Death
Cox reflects on the 2025 death of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. At a staff lunch, he learned of the incident and viewed it as evidence of political violence reaching his state. At a press conference, Cox called Kirk’s murder a “political assassination,” noting it violated constitutional principles due to Kirk being engaged in political speech at the time.
Cox was shocked by some online reactions celebrating Kirk’s death, prompting him to question the country’s moral state. Reviewing social media, he saw posts from various political sides both condemning and celebrating the act, feeling as though the nation stood on the edge of further chaos.
He addressed young Americans, urging them not to succumb to a culture fueled by rage. Cox praises Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, for her public forgiveness of Tyler Robinson, Kirk’s accused shooter. He viewed her forgiveness as an act of courage that ended a cycle of pain.
Cox concludes that political violence flourishes when contempt becomes the norm. His book advocates for Americans to disagree without dehumanizing one another, emphasizing the need for more peacemakers within the country’s political sphere.
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