FILE PHOTO: Utah Governor Spencer Cox attends a press conference after U.S. right-wing activist, commentator, Charlie Kirk, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart/File Photo
At a press conference on Friday, September 12, Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and FBI Director Kash Patel described the suspect in the murder of MAGA activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk: 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson.
Cox continued to offer details on the ongoing investigation during Sunday media appearances, noting that although Robinson came from "a conservative family," his "ideology was very different than his family."
In an article published by The Guardian on September 15, reporters Ramon Antonio Vargas and Anna Betts observe, "During one of multiple national talk show appearances Sunday, the Republican governor said Tyler Robinson, 22, was in relationship with a person 'transitioning from male to female' and that investigators were continuing to explore a possible motive in the attack…. Cox stopped short of saying that officials had determined the suspect's partner's alleged status was a factor in Kirk's killing."
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Cox's comments are generating a lot of discussion on X, formerly Twitter.
X user Katie Lano posted, "Charlie Kirk shooting suspect had 'very different ideology' than conservative family, Utah governor says…. He seems to be throwing things in the air to see what sticks. Typical."
Another X user, Stuart Jones, argued, "Why are you worrying about Utahs left leaning people? The kid that killed Charlie Kirk was from a conservative Mormon family who taught him to shoot. He also posted on far right message boards. He's not registered to any side politically but the slogans he used are far right ones."
Nursing tutor Jenny Haines tweeted, "Kirk shooting suspect had 'very different ideology' than conservative family, Utah governor says Spencer Cox says suspect, who isn't cooperating with officials, had been 'radicalized' and was in relationship with person transitioning from male to female."
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X user Virginia Brown commented, "Kirk shooting suspect had 'leftist ideology' but motive unclear, Utah official says He couldn't make him into a Muslim or a migrant, so he's trying to make him into a lefty. I guess that's what he means by 'he's not cooperating'. Pathetic."
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