As President Trump unleashed his fury at Democrats in the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's fatal shooting, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox offered a more measured response.
Why it matters: Presidents typically call for cool heads and unity during national crises, but Trump began blaming political opponents before law enforcement had arrested a suspect or established a motive.
- Calming the public was a job that fell instead to another Republican, Cox, who urged Americans to resist "rage" during a Friday news conference at Utah Valley University following the suspect's arrest.
- "It feels like rage is the only option. But … we can choose a different path," Cox said.
For the record: In response to a request for comment, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said: "President Trump is right – for years, radical leftists have slandered their political opponents as Nazis and Fascists, inspiring left-wing political violence against conservatives."
- Jackson also referred Axios to Trump's comments via video on Wednesday evening in which he called on Americans "to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived and died. The values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law, and the patriotic devotion and love of God."
- Cox's office didn't respond to a request for comment.
Zoom in: On Friday morning, Trump complained of " bad people, bad philosophies, ideologies, politics."
- "The radicals on the right oftentimes are radical because they don't want to see crime. … The radicals on the left are the problem, and they're vicious and horrible and politically savvy," Trump said.
- Two days earlier, he blamed the "demonization" of conservatives like Kirk for "the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today," citing multiple attacks on Republicans — without mentioning recent violence against Democrats.
- Trump during a "Fox & Friends" interview where he announced the arrest, initially called for Republicans avoid violent retaliation and get "revenge at the voter box." He immediately followed that up by calling mail-in voting "totally rigged" and returned to talking about crime in Democratic-led cities and immigration.
The other side: "There is one person responsible for what happened here, and that person is now in custody," Cox said Friday.
- "This is our moment," Cox said. Do we escalate or do we find an off ramp?"
The big picture: The contrast between the two Republicans could elevate Cox's national profile, observers said.
- That could make him an avatar for Republicans seeking another path forward amid a spiral of political violence and Americans' fatigue with partisan rancor.
What they're saying: Conservatives and liberals alike celebrated Cox's calls for civility.
- "I know this guy is a Republican and all but I swear you could win all the electoral votes with this message in 28," Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) posted on X.
- "And a new political star is born," conservative writer John Podhoretz said on X.
Reality check: Many other Republicans in Utah and beyond have tried — and failed — in their intra-party appeals for a less bellicose GOP since 2016.
- Never-Trump Republicans like Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake and Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse resigned or retired from office. Former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney lost renomination in a 2022 GOP primary landslide.
- In Utah, multiple attempts to challenge MAGA stalwart Sen. Mike Lee from the left ended in defeat.
What we're watching: The GOP will have to choose a course after Trump — and by then, Cox would make a "natural leader" in a shift away from MAGA, said Mike Madrid, co-founder of the Lincoln Project and a veteran GOP political strategist.
- "The one question is: Is that where Republicans are at yet?" Madrid told Axios Salt Lake City.
Flashback: Damon Cann, a political science professor at Utah State University, told Axios that Cox's remarks following Kirk's death were reminiscent of his response as lieutenant governor to the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.
Zoom out: In recent years, Cox received national attention for his "Disagree Better" civility campaign as chair of the National Governors Association.
- In 2020, Cox appeared alongside his Democratic challenger in a series of viral ads calling for less contention.
Yes, but: Cox's critics on the left have challenged the sincerity of his conciliatory slogan as he's moved further right.
- Case in point: As part of the campaign, Cox elevated a GOP firebrand who calls environmentalists "terrorists" and the "scum of the planet."
Go deeper: "This is existential": MAGA's siege mentality deepens after Kirk killing
This story has been updated to include a comment from the White House.
