Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah), who did not support Donald Trump in the Republican primary, said he does not expect to always be on the same page as the president-elect as he replaces retiring Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah). . ) in the Senate next month.
“I support President Trump as he addresses the very difficult issues we have, the economy and conflicts abroad. But I have a mind of my own and I am not a rubber stamp,” Curtis said in an interview with Jonathan Karl on ABC News’ “This Week.”
“My seal is the seal of the state of Utah and I represent its people.”
Curtis was chosen to replace Romney after winning a crowded primary in which he defeated Trump-backed Republican candidate Trent Staggs, the mayor of Riverton, Utah.
He has at times criticized Trump on Capitol Hill and accused the president-elect of encouraging “acts of domestic terrorism” in response to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. But he voted against both impeachments of Trump.
Before reaching the Senate, he opposed Trump’s attorney general’s nominee, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, before he eventually withdrew his name from consideration amid backlash.
When Karl questioned Romney’s willingness to stand up to his own party’s leadership, Curtis pointed out that while it is important for Trump to be “super successful,” that doesn’t mean he always agrees with him.
“So to me, the best description is — it’s normal,” Curtis said when asked about labels like “MAGA Republicans,” “Romney Republicans” and “McCain Republicans.”
Curtis, who received more votes than Trump in Utah, declared that he could not advise the president-elect on Cabinet nominations without speaking “exhaustively” with his candidates.
“I think the better I do my job, the better president he will be,” he said.
Karl later shared a message to critics who were already calling for him to “just get along” with Trump.
“Anyone who wants to give me the passion to do my job is welcome to join. This is my job. It is my constitutional responsibility,” Curtis said.
“These people are the same people who said earlier, ‘We need to take back executive power.’ You have to do your job.’ “I heard that from those same people, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
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Check out our interview with Rep. Karl in the clip below:
