Donald Trump Receives Unexpected Support From GOP Governor, Prior Critic

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, has changed course and will support Donald Trump in the presidential election following the failed assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Cox has been a frequent Trump critic and said in an interview he has never voted for Trump.

The Republican governor previously said he would not vote for Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

“I haven’t voted for the top of the ticket since 2012,” Cox told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins in a recent interview.

“I’ve certainly had my concerns, one of those is what happened on January 6th. I’m hopeful. I want my party to win. They chose a candidate this time around that was not my first choice, wasn’t my choice last time either. But the party’s spoken,” Cox said.

“I’m not going to vote for either presidential candidate this year. I’ll write somebody in as I’ve done in the past,” he added.

WATCH:

Utah Governor Cox says he will not be voting for Trump this election. He says he will be writing someone in. pic.twitter.com/bLoUwtW5dM

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 11, 2024

However, Cox has reconsidered and threw his support behind Trump.

“Mr. President, I know we have some differences, and you probably don’t like me much. And that’s OK. I get it. I’m not writing this letter looking for a position in your Cabinet or a role on your team,” Cox wrote in a letter to President Trump.

“But I have loved so many of your policies and firmly believe that our country has suffered over the last four years due to a lack of leadership and is in desperate need of change. I have told everyone that you are going to win the state of Utah and you are going to win the presidency again. You don’t need my help and support to do that,” he continued.

“However, you have a chance to do something that people have said is impossible. You have a chance to build a coalition of support that our country has not seen since Ronald Reagan,” he added.

“Last Sunday I was feeling incredibly discouraged about our nation. After much prayer and searching about how to help heal our divides, I felt I needed to write former President Trump. I’m hopeful I can help in some small way,” Cox wrote on X.

Last Sunday I was feeling incredibly discouraged about our nation. After much prayer and searching about how to help heal our divides, I felt I needed to write former President Trump. I’m hopeful I can help in some small way. pic.twitter.com/RBOgFTHE39

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) July 19, 2024

Read the full letter:

From The Hill:

Cox is one of the last Republican governors to throw their support behind the former president, after Trump accepted the formal GOP nod Thursday at the final day of the Republican National Convention.

The Utah governor has been a vocal critic of Trump in the past, including blaming him for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Cox called on the former president to resign following the insurrection, saying it would be “good for the country.”

In February, he said it would be a mistake for the party to nominate Trump again for the presidency.

On July 11 — two days before Trump was grazed in the ear with a bullet during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania — Cox told CNN’s Kaitlin Collins that he did not plan on voting for either major party candidate in the 2024 election. Instead, the governor said he would write someone in, as he did in 2016 and 2020.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox flip-flops on support for Donald Trump https://t.co/CWk1v2Dqoo

— The Salt Lake Tribune (@sltrib) July 19, 2024

“Thank you President Trump. This is a winning message and one our nation desperately needs right now. Utah stands ready to help you heal the division in our nation,” Cox said in response to Trump’s RNC speech.

Thank you President Trump. This is a winning message and one our nation desperately needs right now. Utah stands ready to help you heal the division in our nation. https://t.co/ESKq11gHQl

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) July 19, 2024

Per Just the News:

Cox said part of the reason he changed his mind on supporting Trump was because of the former president’s speech at the Republican convention on Thursday, where he called for unity in the country, and urged people to “lower the temperature.”

“There’s a willingness to try,” he said during a press conference Friday. “That’s all I can ask for and hope for. So, I told him in that letter, I said if you’ll do this, I will do everything I can to help and support you.”

Cox most notably butted heads with Trump over the January 6 riot in 2021.

The governor also demanded that Trump treat Biden with respect as he faces calls to stop seeking reelection. There have been growing concerns over the president’s mental and physical health since the first presidential debate. Biden most recently tested positive for COVID-19.

“By treating President Biden with basic human dignity and respect and by emphasizing unity rather than hate, you will win this election by an historic margin and become one of our nation’s most transformational leaders,” Cox wrote.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.