Utah Senator John Curtis says there is still space — and need — for independent thinking within the Republican Party, even under the dominant influence of President Donald Trump.
In an interview on CNN’s Inside Politics Sunday, the freshman senator, who won the seat vacated by Mitt Romney last year, said he is committed to supporting the president’s agenda — but not without voicing concerns when necessary.
“I really think the best way to make President Trump successful is to let him know when we disagree,” Curtis said, emphasizing the importance of Congress acting like a board of directors, not a rubber stamp. “You wouldn’t want a board of directors to rubber-stamp a company president, right?”
While Curtis praised Trump’s stance on border security, he warned about the effects of tariffs on small businesses and expressed unease over the administration’s openness to accepting a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family for use as Air Force One.
On the controversial issue of potentially suspending habeas corpus — a legal safeguard allowing detainees to challenge their imprisonment — Curtis insisted that such a move would require congressional approval. “Make a case to me,” he said, but added he would judge it with caution, imagining what it would mean under a future Democratic president.
Curtis has not shied away from his differences with Trump. He declined to support him in the 2024 GOP presidential primary and has diverged from party orthodoxy on issues ranging from environmental policy to Ukraine. “Putin is not our friend,” he said firmly, underscoring his support for President Zelensky.
Despite his willingness to push back, Curtis dismissed concerns about political fallout. He holds a strong lead in Utah’s GOP Senate primary, even over Trump-endorsed Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs. “People in Utah want the president to be successful,” he said, but added that success sometimes requires constructive criticism.
On fiscal policy, Curtis expressed concern over dramatic cuts proposed by the Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency, advocating instead for a more measured, compassionate approach. “We need to cut,” he said, “but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be thoughtful when letting a federal employee go.”
He also called for preserving elements of the Inflation Reduction Act, such as clean energy incentives, arguing that they align with Republican values and appeal to younger voters.
“The odds of Congress delivering real results go up dramatically when we start telling each other the truth — not just behind closed doors, but out in the open,” Curtis concluded.
