The contrast could not have been more stark. Almost immediately after the killing of far-right activist Charlie Kirk, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox was before a microphone calling for calm and understanding, and decrying not only the violence that took Kirk’s life, but also the right-wing violence that, among others, claimed the life of Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the firebombing of the Pennsylvania governor’s residence.

And then there was Donald Trump, who, before the identity or the motives of the shooter were known, announced that the “violent Left” was responsible, and hinted darkly that “organizations” were behind the incident and would be rooted out by his administration. In that moment, Gov. Cox was a leader, and Trump, though he is the Presiden

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