Utah Gov. Spencer Cox Urges Cooler Heads, Offers ‘Off Ramp’ Ahead Of Charlie Kirk Shooting Anniversary

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is calling on Americans and political leaders to dial down partisan rancor as the nation approaches the anniversary of the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University last September. Cox says a majority of Americans are tired of polarization and are "desperate for something better."

The Shooting and Cox’s Response

The fatal attack during a public event at Utah Valley University thrust conservative commentator Charlie Kirk's death into the national conversation and placed Cox in the spotlight for his conciliatory response. At a press conference after the shooting, Cox urged Americans not to answer violence with more violence:

"We can return violence with violence. We can return hate with hate. At some point, we have to find an off-ramp or it's going to get much, much worse."

Returning to the university nearly a year later, Cox reflected on the emotional impact of the day: "That's a moment I can't get out of my mind. I wish I could, but it just kind of overwhelmed everything."

Off Ramp: A Blueprint For De-escalation

Cox is the author of the upcoming book Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt, which outlines practical steps he argues can help Americans reduce political hostility and rebuild civic norms. Among his recommendations is a conscious unplugging from social media algorithms. Cox described his own experiment with stepping away from Twitter:

ABCNews.com - VIDEO: Gov. Cox on polarization: 'This is not something that any one party owns'

"I was a Twitter addict in December of last year. I deleted Twitter off my phone. Everything got better. The world got better."

Politics, Trump And The 2024 Vote

Cox confirmed he voted for Donald Trump in 2024 after not supporting him in 2016 or 2020. He defended a blunt comment Trump made at Kirk's funeral—remarks that drew controversy at the time—saying he appreciated the former president's candor: "I thought it was very transparent. He was being very honest and I appreciate that. Sometimes politicians aren't honest."

At the same time, Cox warns the nation faces deepening risks if polarization continues. In his book he warns of a potential "complete failure of our democratic republic and its institutions," adding that the problem transcends a single party: "This is not something that any one party owns. It's not something that is the responsibility of any one person. This is America and our drift."

On Presidential Speculation

As his national profile has grown, speculation about a presidential bid has followed. Cox seeks to dispel that chatter: the first line of his book reads, "I'm not running for president. No, really." When asked whether he would make a good president, he was candid and noncommittal: "I don't know. I don't know if I would. It's a very hard job … I'm not running for president. I don't want the job."

Whether or not Cox seeks higher office, he says both parties face a "market failure" in addressing voter fatigue with toxic politics, and he predicts the party that responds to that sentiment will benefit in future elections.