Utah Governor Spencer Cox spoke with ABC News' Martha Raddatz about the state of US politics, saying 70% of Americans are "desperate for something better" amid growing polarization. One year after conservative commentator Charlie Kirk's fatal shooting, Cox is again calling for a shift in tone and a new way forward to deescalate tensions. The governor's comments come as he prepares to release his book "Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt," which offers a "blueprint" for finding common ground amidst partisanship. Cox defended President Donald Trump's comments at Kirk's funeral, saying he appreciated Trump's honesty despite disagreeing with the content.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Utah Gov. Cox: Americans ‘desperate for something better’ amid heightened polarization
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Americans → heighten → polarization
Cox spoke with ABC News’ Martha Raddatz one year after Charlie Kirk’s killing.
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Cox → speak → 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.
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Cox → approach → way
“70% of this country doesn't like where we are right now,” Cox told ABC News’ “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz.
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Cox → like → anchor
Kirk was killed during a public event at Utah Valley University last September.
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Kirk → kill → University
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.
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he → know → whom
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.
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We → unleash → violence
We can return hate with hate,” Cox said at a press conference after the shooting.
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Cox → return → shooting
“At some point, we have to find an off-ramp or it's going to get much, much worse.”
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it → have → ramp
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.
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what → return → moment
“That's a moment I can't get out of my mind,” Cox said.
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Cox → get → mind
“I wish I could, but it just kind of overwhelmed everything.”
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it → wish → everything
Today, with polarization and division penetrating many facets of American life, Cox is calling for a change in course.
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Cox → penetrate → 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.
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which → release → Contempt
In the book, Cox presents what he calls a “blueprint” for how Americans can deescalate political tensions and polarization by finding common ground.
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Americans → present → ground
This is not something that any one party owns'
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party → own → that
After not voting for him in 2016 or 2020, Cox voted for President Donald Trump in 2024 and said he remains a supporter.
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he → vote → 2024
Raddatz asked Cox about comments Trump made at Kirk’s funeral, which were heavily criticized at the time.
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which → ask → time
“[Charlie] did not hate his opponents.
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Charlie → hate → opponents
He wanted the best for them.
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He → want → them
That’s where I disagreed with Charlie.
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I → ’ → Charlie
I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them,” Trump said at the time.
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Trump → hate → time
Cox defended Trump’s comments to Raddatz, saying he appreciated his honesty.
“I thought it was very transparent.
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it → defend → honesty
He was being very honest and I appreciate that.
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I → appreciate → that
Sometimes politicians aren't honest,” Cox said.
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Cox → say → ?
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.”
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U.S. → write → republic
“Those are really extraordinary statements for a Republican to say in the middle of a Republican presidency, not to mention Congress,” Raddatz said.
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Raddatz → say → presidency
“I would have written those words five years earlier as well,” Cox said.
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Cox → write → words
“This is not something that any one party owns.
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party → own → that
Cox says one way to cure that drift is for Americans to unplug from social media.
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Americans → say → media
“Get off of the algorithms, to get off of the screens,” Cox told Raddatz.
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Cox → get → Raddatz
I deleted Twitter off my phone.
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I → delete → phone
Everything got better.
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Everything → get → ?
The world got better.”
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world → get → ?
Cox addresses 2028 presidential speculation
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Cox → address → speculation
As Cox has risen in national prominence, so too has the speculation that he may run for president.
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he → rise → president
Cox is trying to quash the rumors early – the very first line of his book reads “I’m not running for president.
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I → try → president
Raddatz asked Cox if he thought he would make a good president.
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he → ask → president
“I don't know.
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I → know → ?
I don't know if I would,” Cox said.
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Cox → know → ?
…and 5 more, not listed.
