Sen. Curtis says atmosphere is ‘different’ ahead of Trump’s second inauguration
By: Daniel Woodruff
KSL TV
January 19, 2025
When Donald Trump first became president of the United States in 2017, John Curtis was the mayor of Provo.
Now, Curtis is the newest U.S. senator from Utah. He took office just a few weeks ago.
Curtis is part of a Republican majority that’s about to have a Republican president when Trump is sworn into his second term on Monday.
Utah’s junior senator spoke with KSL TV ahead of the inauguration about what’s different this time – and what he expects from a second Trump term.
‘It’s very different’
Curtis believes there’s a different feeling in Washington ahead of Trump’s second inauguration compared to his first.
“You’ll remember eight years ago, we were hearing things from my Democratic colleagues like ‘he’s not my president’ (and) ‘we’re not going to work with him’ and this time it’s very different,” Curtis said by Zoom on Friday. “You’re hearing a number of people from the other side of the aisle saying, hey, we’re going to find places to work together.”
Curtis was elected to Congress in 2017 during Trump’s first term, and he has experience working with him.
“He seems ready to govern,” Curtis said of Trump. “I think his experience having done this before matters and will be helpful.”
But Trump has also stirred up controversy by promising mass deportations when he takes office. He’s also talked about getting revenge on his political enemies.
Asked if either of those things concerned him, Curtis wouldn’t say. Instead, he talked about how it’s time to work together.
“That’s what the American people expect,” he said. “That’s what I’m hearing loud and clear everywhere I go.”
Nomination process
As Trump takes office, he’s still trying to get his cabinet assembled. Curtis recently announced he would support former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense, even though Curtis acknowledged that “there are actions from his past that give me pause.”
Hegseth has been accused of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and excessive drinking.
“I think it’s fair to say I did have concerns, but I’ve also heard really loud that America wants accountability in our military. America wants transparency in our military,” Curtis said. “When I told him I was going to support him, I’m like, don’t let me down, I’ve got big expectations, and America has big expectations, and I think he’s the guy that can go do that.”
Curtis said he hasn’t made up his mind on other Trump nominees like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services or Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence.
Is there pressure on Curtis to fall in line with other Republicans and say yes to Trump on all his nominees?
“I actually feel it’s the opposite,” Curtis responded. “I just feel a lot of pressure to be me, to be independent, to make a good decision and make a decision that represents not just me but the state and reflects the will of the state.”
Outlook for future
Over the next four years, Curtis said he’s optimistic about the country under Trump, but he has promised to push back against the president when he needs to.
“Nobody hires a board of directors to just say yes to everything, and I view myself in many ways like a member of a board of directors who gives advice,” said Curtis.
Ultimately, the new senator said, this next term should be about tackling problems he insists are bipartisan.
“I feel – and I think all of Washington feels – this groundswell from across the country to do the types of things that we were all elected to do,” Curtis said.
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