A few months ago, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox was one of the few prominent Republicans consistently keeping his distance from former President Trump, whose brash style seemed to be the antithesis of a brand of politics Cox had carefully cultivated that centered on unity and respect.

Cox did not vote for Trump in 2016 or 2020, and told CNN in July that he would not vote for him this year. The governor said the then-president’s role in inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol went too far.

Days later, after an assassination attempt on Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, Cox changed his mind.

Cox sent a letter to Trump explaining that his defiant response at the moment of the shooting had spurred a sudden reassessment and switch for Cox.

His turnabout bewildered political observers who, for the past decade, have watched Cox methodically build a persona as a moderate in the manner of Mitt Romney, the Utah senator who was the Republican presidential nominee in 2012, while climbing the ranks of state leadership.

Cox, 49, said in his note that he believed Trump could save the country “by emphasizing unity rather than hate.”

“You probably don’t like me much,” Cox wrote. “But I want you to know that I pledge my support.”

Trump has not in turn endorsed Cox for reelection.

The pair’s puzzling relationship was thrust into the spotlight again this past week when they put themselves at the center of a controversy at Arlington National Cemetery. After Trump’s staff had an altercation with a cemetery official, Cox broke rules — and likely federal law — in using a graveside photo with Trump in a campaign fundraising email.

Federal law prohibits campaign or election-related activities within the Army’s national cemeteries, and officials at Arlington said that rule had been shared widely before Monday’s ceremony honoring 13 service members, including one from Utah, who died in an airport bombing during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago.

Cox’s campaign issued a swift apology for politicizing the ceremony; Trump’s has insisted it had permission to film in a restricted area. A TikTok video of the visit shared by Trump includes scenes of him and Cox at the cemetery with a voice-over of the former president blaming the Biden administration for the “disaster” of the withdrawal.

The opposing responses highlight the disconnect between their political styles and reignite questions why Cox has chosen to stand by Trump, who said after the assassination attempt that he had no plans to change his ways.

“I’m confident that he was there to support a Utah family, and that’s a laudable goal, but in being there with Donald Trump, he got pulled into something that creates some ethical challenges,” said Chris Karpowitz, a political science professor at Brigham Young University. “He allowed himself to compromise his values, and he’s not the first politician aligning with Donald Trump to have found himself in that position.”

The sudden embrace by Cox, who is up for reelection in a race not expected to be close, is not sitting well with some of the Utah moderates he had worked to win over.

Kyle Douglas of Orem said he lost his trust in Cox when the governor chose to back a presidential candidate who does not share his values.

“I used to be proud that my governor was still one of the good guys,” Douglas said. “It’s so disappointing to see him sell out.”

Lucy Wright of Provo put her disgust more bluntly.

“Trump is a big orange stain on his legacy,” she said.

Karpowitz said he, too, was surprised by Cox’s switch, and recalled thinking the governor’s notion that Trump could be a unifying figure for the nation was “somewhat naive.” Like many in Utah, the professor said he found himself struggling to understand why Cox might have thought backing Trump would help the governor politically.

The decision risks Cox’s reputation with his moderate voting base while likely doing little to win over followers of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, many of whom booed Cox at the state GOP convention this year.

Aligning with Trump has been known to bolster the political profiles of some Republicans, but the former president has not been quite as influential in Utah.

The state is a rare Republican stronghold that has half-heartedly embraced Trump, whose divisive rhetoric and comments about refugees and immigrants do not sit well with many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About half of Utah’s 3.4 million residents belong to the faith known widely as the Mormon church.

Cox, a Latter-day Saint, said he believes God had a hand in saving Trump’s life, even calling it a miracle.

At the time of the July 13 shooting, President Biden was clinging to his party’s nomination in the face of unrelenting pressure from many Democrats to drop out as they feared he might be unable to win reelection after his disastrous debate against Trump in June.

Cox said in his letter to Trump that he was not looking for a Cabinet position or a role on the team, but the governor told the Atlantic he had come to realize he could not have broader influence within the party if he wasn’t on Trump’s side.

Cox has not publicly expressed a desire to run for national office, but he has worked to raise his profile beyond Utah by chairing the National Governors Assn. His initiative as chairman, “Disagree Better,” focused on restoring civility in politics.

The Trump endorsement came a month after Cox breezed to victory in the primary over ardent Trump supporter Phil Lyman, who espoused false claims of election fraud after the 2020 presidential election. Lyman remained defiant and encouraged his supporters to write his name on the November ballot instead of voting for Cox, who is expected to defeat his Democratic opponent even without the support of the state’s MAGA faction.

Cox is not the first moderate Republican, nor even the first from Utah, to be lured closer to Trump despite previous opposition.

Romney had been one of Trump’s most strident critics in the 2016 election, calling him a phony and a fraud. But after Trump’s victory, Romney met the president for dinner to discuss a top diplomatic job in Trump’s administration. After the meeting, he even praised Trump but has since reverted to being one of Trump’s fiercest Republican critics.

Schoenbaum writes for the Associated Press.

SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds of people crowded the south steps of the Utah State Capitol on Saturday for International Overdose Awareness Day.

The day is recognized on a global scale every year on Aug. 31. It is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose and remember loved ones who died due to overdose.

Beginning in 2021, Overdose Awareness Day was officially recognized in Utah.

FOX 13 News spoke with Richard Beeman on Saturday. He lost his son, Jesse, to an overdose on May 14, 2011.

“He was a wonderful kid, a real wonderful kid. Did a lot for people, cared about everybody but himself, he did,” said Beeman.

Beeman said his son’s death happened just shy of his 20th birthday.

“I wish I could have saved him,” said Beeman. “He OD’ed the third time and passed away.”

It’s a feeling Terry Olsen knows all too well.

“It’ll be 10 years that I lost my 25-year-old son Dane to a heroin overdose,” said Olsen.

Olsen is a board member of Changes Parent Support Network, which she describes as a support group for families who have a loved one causing conflict in their home.

“The whole experience when we went through our loss, the support I received from other people … saved my sanity, helped me work through something that wasn’t in the script for our life,” said Olsen.

The theme of the event at the capitol on Saturday was “Together We Can.”

Names of loved ones lost to an overdose were read. Several speakers also stepped up to the microphone to tell their story, like Tiffany Naccarato.

“I want to say thank you to the people who helped save my life. A lot of them aren’t here today, they were not able to stand here, and it makes me happy that they chose to save my life,” said Naccarato, who serves as the community impact manager for Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness. “I’m actually a 12 survivor of overdose.”

Olsen told FOX 13 News on Saturday that she is grateful every year to see the response, the people that show up to support this event and the people who are there to honor those who have been lost.

She also wants to help find solutions.

“And help for the people who are still here that we want to see not on a poster at the next overdose awareness,” said Olsen.

Provisional data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics indicate there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. during 2023. That is a 3% decrease from the estimated numbers in 2022.

This marked the first annual decrease since 2018.

On Friday, Utah Governor Spencer Cox issued an order for the U.S. flags and Utah flags to be flown at half-staff on all state facilities in recognition of Overdose Awareness Day.

No. 12 Utah kicked off the 2024 season in impressive fashion with stars Cam Rising and Brant Kuithe returning to make strong statements in a commanding 49-0 victory over Southern Utah. The Utes delivered the expected result, showcasing their dominance while fine-tuning their game plan. As the team now sets its sights on a more challenging test against the Baylor Bears, here are three takeaways from Thursday night’s performance.

Utes run game shows promise

One of the most encouraging signs for Utah was the performance of their running game. While no single rusher stood out — the leading rusher managed just 34 yards — the team still compiled 185 rushing yards. This collective effort underscores a promising ground attack, one that has clearly benefited from improvements along the offensive line. The push from the line was solid, creating enough space for running backs to find creases and utilize cutback lanes, a notable improvement from last season when running room was often hard to come by.

However, for the rushing attack to be sustainable throughout the season, Utah will need one or more backs to emerge as go-to options. The distribution of carries worked against Southern Utah, but consistency from key players will be essential as the Utes face tougher defenses. The balance of an effective passing game, led by Rising and Kuithe, seemed to open up more opportunities for the ground game, setting a positive tone for the season ahead.

Caleb Lohner’s impactful debut

Caleb Lohner, a converted basketball player, made a notable debut for Utah. Playing significant snaps, Lohner showcased his athleticism and versatility, particularly with his acrobatic, contested touchdown catch late in the game. The play, which appeared to be a back shoulder throw, demonstrated Lohner’s excellent hand-eye coordination and physicality, qualities that will make him a valuable asset in the tight end rotation.

Lohner’s route-running, physical presence, and involvement in both the passing and running game stood out, highlighting his potential to become a key contributor. His performance suggests that he could be a significant part of Utah’s offensive plans this season, especially as he continues to develop his skills on the football field.

Keanu Tanuvasa’s disruptive presence

Defensive lineman Keanu Tanuvasa emerged as a potential difference-maker for the Utes. While he didn’t register tackles behind the line of scrimmage, his ability to penetrate the backfield and disrupt plays was evident. Tanuvasa’s quick first step and knack for beating offensive linemen allowed him to create pressure consistently, forcing Southern Utah to adjust their game plan with quick passes to avoid his rush.

Though Tanuvasa missed a few opportunities to make game-changing plays, his consistent backfield presence was a highlight of Utah’s defensive effort. As the Utes prepare for stiffer competition, Tanuvasa’s disruptiveness could prove crucial. If he can maintain this level of play, he will be a key figure in Utah’s defense, creating headaches for opposing offenses throughout the season.

Utah welcomes Baylor into Rice-Eccles Stadium next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.