Bannon unleashes attack on Utah governor, LDS Church over Kirk murder

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Following conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk's killing last week, Steve Bannon launched a blistering attack on Utah Governor Spencer Cox Monday, demanding an FBI investigation and declaring the governor "part of the problem" behind the tragic incident.

He also laid blame at the feet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for fostering an environment that led to Kirk's death.

Cox, who has frequently positioned himself as a moderate voice in Republican politics, earned Bannon's ire over his calls for unity following Kirk's death - a stance that sharply contrasts with the increasingly heated rhetoric surrounding the case.

"Cox represents the dead Republican Party that is just too gutless to engage here and wants to look the other way," Bannon seethed during Monday's broadcast of his "War Room" program.

Bannon accused Cox of misrepresenting his communications with the White House, calling him "a bald-faced liar" about the sequence of events. According to Bannon, Cox initiated contact with the White House about his media appearances, rather than the other way around. "He notified the White House that Sunday shows were reaching out," Bannon explained, contradicting what he claimed was Cox's version of events.

"He's also a bald-faced liar. Let me tell you what he’s a bald-faced liar about: the White House did not contact him and ask him to go on TV and do a full Ginsburg yesterday," Bannon said.

"He notified the White House that a couple of Sunday shows were reaching out to him. 'Do you have some things?' And they sent, 'Here’s what the President’s been saying.' Because what the President’s been saying is not what you’ve said. That’s why the President called him when he had the press briefing."

The Atlantic's McCay Coppins reported that President Donald Trump called Cox after his impassioned speech at the press conference announcing the arrest of Tyler Robinson, Kirk's alleged killer.

Bannon continued his broadside, accusing Cox of upstaging FBI director Kash Patel during press events during the manhunt for Kirk's killer and for his previous stances supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

"And he took the role of really the FBI director and gave the details and then went on that long-felt like a 15-minute—speech," Bannon said. "Cox is part of the problem because he’s been governing there for a while and he drove the transgender agenda. Remember, he went out to all the schools, had a Zoom call, and talked about their pronouns—laid into it."

Cox was not Bannon's only target on Monday. He also attacked the LDS Church for fostering an environment that led to Kirk's murder.

"There's something wrong, and I think the Mormon Church has to address it. We went out to Utah immediately after Charlie was shot. We did the show there for, what, three days? My production crew was absolutely shocked that in going around Salt Lake City, they saw more LGBTQ flags than American flags," Bannon said.

"The shooter's Mormon, comes from a Mormon family. What is going on out there? And why is the Mormon Church not stepping up here in a bigger way?"

"I shot him, now shoot me." Police say man falsely confessed to Charlie Kirk's murder because he wanted to help gunman escape. [Utah Political Watch]

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect expected to appear in Utah court. [Guardian]

Charlie Kirk shooting suspect appeared to confess on Discord. [BBC]

Suspected gunman Robinson wrote note threatening Kirk, tied to scene by DNA, FBI director says. [Reuters]

Charlie Kirk killing: Suspect had "obsession" with the conservative influencer, FBI says. [ABC News]

Utah Supreme Court rejects Legislature's request to stop redistricting. [KSL]

Utah auditor says Senate president is–again–moving to remove her from her Capitol office. [Salt Lake Tribune]

Utah's House Speaker considers campus security review after UVU shooting. [Fox 13]

UVU's emergency alerts during Charlie Kirk shooting led to confusion and fear on campus. [Salt Lake Tribune]

"Choose humanity," Utah Gov. Cox says in message to college students after Charlie Kirk killing. [Utah News Dispatch]

Utah school leaders support Trump's vision for education funding, new letter indicates. [Salt Lake Tribune]

LDS Church says it is instituting water-saving landscaping measures. [Fox 13]

JD Vance backs mass "doxing" campaign to find and harass Charlie Kirk critics. [Guardian]

President Donald Trump hits New York Times with $15 billion lawsuit for allegedly "Lying about your favorite president (ME!)" [Deadline]

President Donald Trump heads to the UK for a state visit on Tuesday. [Newsweek]

A South Dakota man has been sent to prison for over 10 years after being convicted for attempting to give classified information to Russia. [ABC News]

President Trump's tariffs appear to have pushed inflation up higher than expected according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. [CNBC]

The unemployment rate for Black Americans is up sharply this year. [Axios]

Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor, director and indie patriarch, dies at 89. [Associated Press]