Utah Gov. Cox: Americans ‘desperate for something better’ amid polarization

Cox spoke with ABC News’ Martha Raddatz one year after Charlie Kirk’s killing.

As the country approaches one year since the fatal shooting of conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is again calling on Americans and political leaders alike to turn down the temperature and push for a new way forward.

“70% of this country doesn't like where we are right now,” Cox told ABC News’ “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz. “They're tired of the hyper-partisanship. They're tired of the contempt and they're desperate for something better, something different.”

Kirk was killed during a public event at Utah Valley University last September. While Kirk was known for his controversial political opinions , he was also remembered as someone who frequently engaged in debates with those with whom he disagreed.

His killing unleashed a political firestorm, but also thrust Cox into the spotlight for his conciliatory rhetoric in the aftermath.

“We can return violence with violence. We can return hate with hate,” Cox said at a press conference after the shooting. “At some point, we have to find an off-ramp or it's going to get much, much worse.”

Cox returned to Utah Valley University with Raddatz nearly one year after the Sept. 10, 2025, shooting, reflecting on the moment he had learned what happened.

“That's a moment I can't get out of my mind,” Cox said. “I wish I could, but it just kind of overwhelmed everything.”

Today, with polarization and division penetrating many facets of American life, Cox is calling for a change in course. He is the author of the upcoming book, “Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt,” which will be released Tuesday. In the book, Cox presents what he calls a “blueprint” for how Americans can deescalate political tensions and polarization by finding common ground.

'This is not something that any one party owns'

After not voting for him in 2016 or 2020, Cox voted for President Donald Trump in 2024 and said he remains a supporter. Raddatz asked Cox about comments Trump made at Kirk’s funeral, which were heavily criticized at the time.

“[Charlie] did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them,” Trump said at the time.

Cox defended Trump’s comments to Raddatz, saying he appreciated his honesty.

“I thought it was very transparent. He was being very honest and I appreciate that. Sometimes politicians aren't honest,” Cox said.

In the book, Cox writes that he worries the U.S. is on a path to “complete failure of our democratic republic and its institutions.”

“Those are really extraordinary statements for a Republican to say in the middle of a Republican presidency, not to mention Congress,” Raddatz said.

“I would have written those words five years earlier as well,” Cox said. “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.”

Cox says one way to cure that drift is for Americans to unplug from social media.

“Get off of the algorithms, to get off of the screens,” Cox told Raddatz. “I was a Twitter addict in December of last year. I deleted Twitter off my phone. Everything got better. The world got better.”

Cox addresses 2028 presidential speculation

As Cox has risen in national prominence, so too has the speculation that he may run for president. Cox is trying to quash the rumors early – the very first line of his book reads “I’m not running for president. No, really.”

Raddatz asked Cox if he thought he would make a good president.

“I don't know. I don't know if I would,” Cox said. “It's a very hard job … I'm not running for president. I don't want the job.”

“I think there's a market failure in both parties right now. I think that the party that figures out that Americans are tired of the toxicity will do very very well in the election,” Cox added. “I hope it's my party in ’28, but that remains to be seen.”

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