Utah Governor Flip Flops And Endorses ‘Miracle’ Trump After Shooting

Republican Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a prominent Trump critic, reversed course and endorsed former President Donald Trump in a letter this week after last Saturday’s failed assassination attempt on him in Pennsylvania.

According to Politico, Cox publicly committed to supporting Trump’s candidacy when speaking to reporters on Friday, a day after the latter accepted the GOP nomination for president for a third straight election.

“I am doing everything I can to help and support him,” the governor – who called on Trump to resign on Jan. 6, 2021 – said. “We will 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.”

The public comments were made six days after Cox reportedly sent Trump a letter wishing him well and offering his support after a bullet the FBI said was fired by Thomas Matthew Crooks struck Trump in the ear. The suspect, who was killed by the Secret Serice, allegedly shot Trump and two of his supporters and killed another one.

The event must have stirred Cox, according to Politico:

The day after the shooting, Cox privately threw his support behind Trump in a letter, writing that he believed Trump’s life was spared due to a “miracle” and that “I humbly submit that you — and I sincerely mean this — only you — can” unify the country.

“Mr. President, I know we have some differences and you probably don’t like me much. And that’s OK. I get it. I am not writing this letter looking for a position in your Cabinet or a role on your team,” Cox wrote in the letter, obtained by POLITICO and first reported by Deseret News. “But I have loved so many of your policies … [and] I have told everyone that you are going to win the state of Utah and you are going to win the presidency again.”

In addition to a previous call for Trump to resign, Cox said just last August he did not believe the former president was capable of winning another election.

“I like to win elections,” Cox told reporters, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. I like when Republicans win elections, and I desperately think we need a Republican president. I don’t think Donald Trump can win the presidency as the Republican nominee.”

Cox met with President Joe Biden in February where Deseret News later reported the president and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden praised his “Disagree Better” initiative which calls for more national unity.

Just last week, Cox told CNN he would “write somebody in” on his 2024 ballot, adding, “I’m not going to vote for either presidential candidate this year.”

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