On the eve of new members of Congress being sworn in, the most senior member of Utah’s congressional delegation had one thing on his mind: “Who else wishes we could swear in Trump tomorrow?” Sen. Mike Lee wrote on his personal X account, @basedmikelee.
As Republicans officially take control of the U.S. House, Senate and White House, they also have a grasp on all six of Utah’s seats in Washington. Former Rep. John Curtis moves to the Senate to take the place of retiring Mitt Romney, and ex-state Sen. Mike Kennedy will sit in Curtis’ previous seat in the House.
Most of Utah’s members of Congress, as they took their oaths of office Friday, also publicly pledged their support for President-elect Donald Trump.
“With @HouseGOP united behind @SpeakerJohnson, we’re going to hit the ground running to deliver President @RealDonaldTrump’s America First agenda. Just Win Baby!” Rep. Burgess Owens posted on X after representatives reelected Speaker Mike Johnson following an endorsement from Trump.
(Mark Schiefelbein | AP) House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., center left, poses during a ceremonial swearing-in with Rep.Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, center right, and members of Kennedy's family, in the Rayburn Room at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
Rep. Celeste Maloy, whose victory in a tight primary race was bolstered by Trump’s backing, posted: “With Republicans in the majority, we will reverse the harmful policies of the last 4 years.”
In an email sent to constituents, Maloy continued, “Under Speaker Johnson’s leadership and with a united Republican conference, we will be able to swiftly deliver on President Trump’s America First Agenda.”
This will be Maloy’s first full term in Congress. The former congressional staffer was elected to replace her previous boss, then-Rep. Chris Stewart, when he stepped away from his post in 2023.
As House Republican Conference vice chair, Rep. Blake Moore is the highest-ranking Utahn in the conference. On social media, he said he looks forward to working with both Johnson and Trump “to advance a dynamic conservative agenda that uplifts Utahns & Americans across the country.”
The one Utah member of Congress who has been speculated to be a possible challenge to Trump — at least when it comes to confirming his cabinet picks — is Curtis.
“What can you expect from me?” Curtis said in a call with reporters Friday. “You will see me supporting and working to ensure President Trump’s priorities of things like fixing the economy, inflation, securing the border, keeping America strong, are all realized.”
The new senator previously said in an interview with ABC News show “This Week” that when he gets the opportunity to talk to Trump, he will say, “Mr. President, from time to time, I’m going to disagree with you. And it will be respectful. And I think when I disagree with you, it will be helpful. And I hope you’ll listen to me.”
When asked in the Friday call where his current stance is on some of Trump’s more controversial administration nominees, Curtis said, “Until I really have a chance to go through that entire [confirmation] process, I’d be careful to make any decisions myself until I have all the facts on every candidate.”
“Proud to stand with you today as you took the oath of office, Senator Curtis!,” Lee later shared to social media from his official Senate account. “We’re going to do great things for the people of Utah and families across America. Let’s get to work!
