Utah Gov Spencer Cox shredded as he declares support for Donald Trump after being a longtime critic

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: Utah Governor Spencer Cox, one of the only Republicans holding statewide office who had refused to endorse Donald Trump, announced his support for the 2024 GOP presidential candidate on Friday, July 19. 

Cox, a steadfast critic of the ex-president, previously stated that he had never cast a vote for the 78-year-old MAGA strongman and had called for his resignation following the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill.

However, in a news conference on Friday, the Utah Republican said, "I am doing everything I can to help and support him. 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," as per Politico. 

Gov Spencer Cox wrote a letter to Donald Trump expressing his support following assassination attempt

The day after the failed assassination attempt, Utah Governor Spencer Cox privately expressed his support for the former president in a letter, stating that he believed Donald Trump’s life was saved by a "miracle" and that "I humbly submit that you — and I sincerely mean this — only you — can" unify the country.

In the letter obtained by Politico and first reported by Deseret News, Cox wrote, "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."

He added, "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."

Cox, known for a more centrist approach, had previously emphasized that he was "not anti-Trump," but that "I have serious issues with some of the things he’s done, I love some of the things he’s done."

On July 11, two days before the Butler rally shooting, he told CNN that he was "not going to vote for either presidential candidate this year. I’ll write somebody in, as I’ve done in the past."

Following the January 6 attack, during an appearance on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ on January 11, 2021, Cox said, "I certainly think it would be good for the nation if [Trump] were willing to resign."

The 45th president did not endorse Cox before his primary this year, but he still managed to defeat a far-right challenger by a large margin.

Cox recently concluded his term as chair of the National Governors Association, a bipartisan group he co-led with Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

In 2023, Cox had advocated for a governor to be the GOP’s presidential nominee, a criterion Trump did not meet.

Earlier this year, he had stated that the Republican Party would be making "a huge mistake" if it nominated Trump.

Cox’s wife and lieutenant governor had served on former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley's leadership team.

Internet reacts as longtime Donald Trump critic Utah Gov Spencer Cox endorses ex-POTUS

Netizens chastised the Beehive State governor for bending the knee to the 2024 Republican presidential candidate after years of being a staunch critic. 

One claimed, "This is about self preservation, nothing more," and another wrote, "Political necessity to save his a**."

"Because Cox is a treasonous piece of s**t and he knows he’s on the chopping block," remarked a person, while one more quipped, "He has to know which side of the bread is buttered."

An individual expressed, "He’s one of those repubs who are afraid of being outed as compromised, but now is cornered."

Another person wrote, "Jd Vance was a never trumper. We have to be understanding of people who are turning. They are waking up and that is what is most important. We will make a tent that will simply be too big to rig."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.