Overview
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox shared the stage at Washington National Cathedral in a conversation moderated by NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, condemning political violence and modeling cross-party dialogue.
- Shapiro said the president has failed to speak with moral clarity and called on him to “do better,” citing dehumanizing remarks about Rep. Ilhan Omar as rhetoric that can signal tolerance for targeting opponents.
- Cox said Trump is not interested in uniting the country but noted the president told him he supports nonviolence; Cox argued lasting change depends on citizens, not just elected officials.
- The governors split on youth social media policy, with Cox backing a federal ban under 16 and Shapiro opposing a ban in favor of digital literacy programs.
- The cathedral event, part of “Disagree Better” and allied civility initiatives, was interrupted multiple times by protesters, underscoring public tensions even as polls show most Americans believe political violence is rising.