Utah governor hits Trump with a flurry of insults
Utah Governor Spencer Cox on Thursday lashed out at former President Donald Trump, saying he was “not a good person” and accusing him of being “sheepish” for visiting Arlington Cemetery over the weekend.
The Republican governor’s comments came during a radio interview on KSL Newsradio when he was asked about Trump’s upcoming visit to the state this weekend to support former Gov. Mike Leavitt’s bid for the Senate.
Cox condemned Trump for spreading lies about the election and for continuing to push baseless claims of election fraud, despite numerous audits and court rulings debunking those claims.
“He’s not a good person. He’s not a nice person. He doesn’t have the temperament and the character to be leading our country,” Cox said. “It just bothers me that he’s trying to gaslight the American people and is constantly out there spreading lies.”
Cox also criticized Trump for his recent visit to Arlington Cemetery, where he reportedly spent a few hours on Veterans Day paying his respects to fallen soldiers.
“I just have a real hard time with someone who can be a very sheepish person and visit Arlington Cemetery and at the same time spread lies about the election or attack the families of fallen soldiers,” Cox said.
The governor’s fiery remarks stand in stark contrast to many of his Republican colleagues who have sought to appease Trump and avoid criticizing him in public. Cox, who took office earlier this year, has been more willing to speak out against the former president and reject his influence on the party.
This isn’t the first time Cox has spoken out against Trump. In a CNN interview earlier this year, he criticized Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and called for unity and civility in politics.
“Leaders should be in the business of bringing us together, not dividing us,” Cox said. “We have to get past this. We have to stop the lies, stop the conspiracy theories, and we have to move forward as a country.”
Despite his criticism of Trump, Cox said he would welcome the former president’s support for Leavitt’s Senate bid, acknowledging Trump’s popularity among Republican voters in the state.
“He’s a very popular figure in our party. He’s a very popular figure in Utah,” Cox said. “I get that. I understand that. I just wish he would stop spreading lies about the election and attacking people personally. That’s not helpful.”
Cox’s comments come as the Republican Party continues to grapple with Trump’s influence and the direction of the party moving forward. Many Republicans are torn between embracing Trump’s base or moving in a new direction that rejects his divisive rhetoric and conspiracy theories.
As Trump prepares to visit Utah this weekend, Cox’s remarks are likely to fuel further speculation about the future of the party and the ongoing battle for its soul.