Governor Cox stated in an interview with NBC News’s Meet the Press that Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old suspect, aligned with leftist ideology despite being raised in a conservative household.
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“We can confirm that, according to interviews with family and associates, he comes from a conservative background. However, his ideology diverged significantly from that of his family,” Cox explained.
The Republican governor didn’t specify Robinson’s motive but indicated that the suspect had engaged with “dark online spaces.”
“We do know, as has been widely reported, that this individual led a very ordinary life, and was quite intelligent,” Cox noted.
Public records show that Robinson registered as an independent voter in Utah, while his parents are Republican.
In a discussion with CNN’s State of the Union, Governor Cox revealed that the information about Robinson’s leanings emerged from conversations with family members and friends.
“I have no stake in this. If this were a MAGA follower, a radicalized MAGA individual, I would be saying that as well. But that’s not what we’re hearing,” Cox said, referring to the Make America Great Again movement championed by former US President Donald Trump.
Governor Cox also confirmed that the suspect was in a romantic relationship with his transgender roommate, who was transitioning from male to female, and that this partner is cooperating with the investigation.
“This partner had no idea this was happening, and is currently collaborating with investigators,” he said.
Cox stated that while the relationship’s relevance to the assassination is unclear, authorities are exploring this angle.
“We’re trying to understand why this happened. I know everyone wants to know, to assign blame, and I understand that too,” he stated.
Kirk, a prominent figure in the conservative movement and an advocate for conservative youth engagement in politics, was fatally shot during a public speaking event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
Kirk was recognized among young conservatives and played a crucial role in mobilizing youth for Trump’s re-election in November.
He was a polarizing character, revered by conservatives for championing traditional values and free speech while being criticized by liberals for reportedly fomenting hatred towards marginalized communities.
Though both Republican and Democratic leaders have decried Kirk’s murder, it has highlighted the sharp political divide affecting daily Americans.
Following the assassination, some left-leaning Americans celebrated on social media, sparking fury among conservatives and attempts to have those deemed disrespectful of Kirk’s memory dismissed from their jobs.
On the right, some figures have adopted a rhetoric of retaliation.
“If they won’t leave us in peace, then our choice is to fight or die,” tech mogul Elon Musk said on X.
Trump, who initially condemned the rhetoric of the “radical left” following Kirk’s death, has avoided messages of unity and has instead blamed the left for the violence.
“The radicals on the right are typically radical because they’re against crime,” Trump stated to Fox News’s Fox & Friends.
“The radicals on the left are the real problem; vicious, horrible, and politically shrewd.”
In an NBC News interview, Trump said, “We’d like the nation to heal, but we’re dealing with radical left lunatics who don’t play fair and never have.”
Kirk’s assassination has raised concerns about further violence, as politically driven attacks have been on the rise.
According to Reuters, the United States has seen over 300 instances of political violence between the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and the 2024 presidential election, making this the worst period for such violence since the 1970s.
