Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on why he's supporting Trump after all

Gov. Spencer Cox is opening up about why he's backing former President Trump in the presidential race following the former president's July assassination attempt .

What they're saying: "[Cox] told me that the 'Never Trump' movement had utterly failed, and said he'd come to realize that he couldn't have any influence on the modern GOP 'if I'm not on the team' — that is, Trump's team," the Atlantic reported Monday.

• "It's absolutely a litmus test. I don't think it should be. I wish it wasn't that way. But it is," Cox said, per the story.

Why it matters: Cox's endorsement of Trump remains a head scratcher for Republicans and Democrats alike — especially after he survived a contentious GOP primary against MAGA candidates.

Flashback: Cox said he didn't vote for Trump in 2016 or 2020 .

• Days before endorsing Trump, he told CNN he would not cast a ballot for him over lingering concerns around the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Between the lines: Even Utah first lady Abby Cox, who endorsed Nikki Haley for the GOP nomination, opposed the governor's endorsement.

• "This wasn't her favorite idea — to put it mildly. And still isn't," Cox said.

Catch up quick: In recent months, Cox has shied away from his carefully nurtured profile as a moderate .

• In his nationwide "Disagree Better" campaign for civility, he featured a GOP firebrand who calls environmentalists "terrorists."
• After promoting Utah's bipartisan support for Salt Lake's bid to host the 2034 Winter Olympics , he repeatedly amplified culture-war debates during the recent Summer Games in Paris.

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