A thrill records of “Today with George Stephanopoulos” broadcasting on Sunday, December 22 on ABC Information is listed below. This duplicate might not remain in its last type, might be upgraded and might have small transcription mistakes. For previous program records, go to the “Today” records archive.
KARL: So I discovered you got on the Us senate flooring when Glove Romney offered his goodbye address.
CURTIS: Yes.
KARL: I’m not mosting likely to ask you, are you the following Glove Romney in the Us senate? However what’s your feeling of his tradition?
CURTIS: Well, pay attention, Glove Romney, regardless of what you claim regarding him, everyone states he clings that he is. Which’s such a terrific quality. I desire we might claim that regarding every one of– everyone. And if they claim that regarding me when I’m done, I’ll be extremely satisfied.
KARL: He had this self-reliance and clearly he agreed to withstand his very own celebration’s management.
CURTIS: Yep.
KARL: Is that something you see on your own doing?
CURTIS: You recognize, it’s extremely vital to me that Head of state Trump succeeds. I intend to see him hugely effective, and I’ll be helpful of him when he’s discussing rising cost of living and the economic situation and whatever like that. However that does not suggest there will not be minutes when I differ with him. And I believe it’s extremely vital to me and my components that– that at those minutes that I really feel comfy speaking out.
KARL: So you– I recognize you do not such as tags, however you listen to MAGA Republican politician.
CURTIS: Yeah. Yeah.
KARL: Romney Republican Politician. McCain Republican politician. I suggest, where do you fit?
CURTIS: So the very best summary for me is– is typical.
KARL: Typical. OK.
CURTIS: I such as that tag, yeah. And the trouble is with tags is it’s type of a faster way to stereotype someone, right? We such as to simply have this extremely fast, ‘Oh you suit this and as a result I do not need to recognize anything even more regarding you due to the fact that you are modest.’ Right? And the fact of it is it’s not that basic. A modest in Salt Lake City is various than a modest in Saint George or a modest in, in, Massachusetts. So to attempt to claim someone is a modest or something simply does not fit. And I actually such as to straighten myself with core Utah worths. And the very best means to explain those are our leader worths.
KARL: Currently, you competed the Us senate and Trump backed among your challengers.
CURTIS: That’s right.
KARL: Really did a project– I suggest, actually– delved it for among your challengers and you still won.
CURTIS: So I’ll simply boast momentarily. I won in a 4 means key with practically 50%.
KARL: Yeah.
CURTIS: As a non-Trump-endorsed prospect.
KARL: And I believe was it a dual figure lead over the, the–?
CURTIS: It was a considerable lead.
KARL: Significant lead over– over the individual Trump– Exactly how did you do that? I suggest, you’re– you recognize, he’s the king of the Republican politician Celebration. His recommendation matters greater than any kind of various other recommendation in a Republican primary. What was, what was the essential there?
CURTIS: I think I had the ability to be the genuine John Curtis which individuals are wishing for credibility. And as I pointed out previously, appearance, I sustain Head of state Trump when he’s managing several of these actually hard concerns that we have, the economic situation and the disputes overseas. However I do have my very own mind, and I’m not a stamp. My stamp is the stamp of the state of Utah. And I stand for those individuals. And I believe individuals reacted to that in, in the political election and they’re craving credibility. And simply inform us that you actually are and after that be that individual. And I believe that’s why we did so well.
KARL: You do listen to several of your coworkers, your future coworkers in the Us senate that claim, ‘He won. He’s obtained a required, he is entitled to, you recognize, everyone that he’s picked.’
CURTIS: Yeah.
KARL: So to put it simply, stamp.
CURTIS: Yeah, I listened to that from my child, incidentally, at Thanksgiving. Yeah.
KARL: He claimed that?
CURTIS: He did. He claimed, ‘Papa, I’m a self-described, I took the red tablet.’ Yeah. So he type of collection that up. And my feedback to him was a number of points. One, in kind of a kidding means, I claimed, ‘you recognize, I did obtain even more ballots than him in Utah. Does that offer me a required?’ And– however allow me return to this type of this idea that I believe me talking my mind and, and me being in advance makes the head of state a far better head of state. And now, I’m speaking with these candidates– candidates. And I believe individuals neglect the recommendations component of recommendations and approval. I can not encourage the head of state if I have not extensively spoke to these individuals, if I have not examined whatever regarding them, if I have not discovered their staminas and their weak points. And I believe I owe that to the head of state. And I believe if the far better work I do, the far better head of state he will certainly be.
KARL: So you have actually made it clear crazes you have claimed that you’re mosting likely to be– look extremely carefully whatsoever these candidates.
CURTIS: Yes.
KARL: It absolutely appears feasible you would certainly elect versus some. Perhaps you’ll wind up electing every one of them. I do not recognize. I suggest, you inform me–
CURTIS: Yeah, so I believe it is necessary that I share this space– empty sheet. And incidentally, I consulted with several of the much more questionable ones. And–
KARL: You have actually consulted with Pete Hegseth. You have actually consulted with Kash Patel.
CURTIS: Yeah. And in both instances, when Kash can be found in, I had currently review his publication. I had actually spoken with 3 or 4 individuals he had actually collaborated with. And when Pete can be found in, I claimed, Pete, appearance, inform me which publication you desire me to review, and I will certainly review it, of your publications. Inform me that you desire me to speak with, so– so I reach figure out that the genuine Pete is. Since I called a political leader whatever that remains in the paper, I should not take it firsthand. And I intend to discover myself that he is and what type of work he will certainly do.
KARL: So allow’s take this to you momentarily, due to the fact that you claimed, you did, these were significant concerns that have actually been increased regarding Pete Hegseth, I think, is what you claimed. Did he fix those concerns with you, are you still–
CURTIS: No, and incidentally, there was no other way that we’re mosting likely to fix those in a 30-minute discussion.
KARL: Did you enter into everything? Did you ask him regarding the-
CURTIS: We did, however just so a little, due to the fact that in my mind, I’m checking out this procedure. He still needs to go for a hearing. He still needs to have an FBI check. It’s a little early for me, right? To attempt to fix all these points in half an hour. So I asked him what he was mosting likely to perform in his very first hundred days, what he was mosting likely to perform in his very first 500 days. And we did enter into those concerns. But also for me, they continue to be unsolved. And I should not attempt to fix them up until I have this huge wide canvas of info regarding him.
KARL: However I’ve additionally seen, you’ve taken warmth, specifically on the internet, social networks, from fans of the head of state stating, ‘What’s incorrect with you? Simply obtain in line currently.
CURTIS: Pay Attention.
KARL: ‘Why are you asking concerns? Why are you stating you have worries?’
CURTIS: Any person that wishes to offer me warmth for doing my work, bring it on. This is my work. It’s my constitutional duty. These very same individuals coincide individuals that would certainly have claimed previously, ‘you require to take power back from the executive branch. You require to do your work.’ I have actually listened to that from these similar individuals, which’s what I’m doing.
KARL: And Kash Patel, I suggest, what do you construct from the broach revenge? Vengeance?
CURTIS: So those were extremely particular discussions I had with him. For me, among one of the most vital points that I required to speak with Kash is that he would certainly be callous political association, due to the fact that I recognize several of things that he claimed which have actually been credited to him.
KARL: You reviewed his publication.
CURTIS: Yeah. And it was essential to me that he pursues crooks.
KARL: Yeah.
CURTIS: And I uncommitted if they’re Republicans or Democrats and we had some extremely particular discussions regarding that. And I wished to ensure that, that he would certainly be callous that.
KARL: And Head Of State Trump himself has actually spoken about pursuing Liz Cheney, recommending extremely lately that she might deal with criminal costs. Does that things issue you?
CURTIS: You recognize, he claimed the very same features of Hillary Clinton a variety of years earlier.
KARL: Lock her up, I remember.
CURTIS: Lock her up. Therefore I would not claim I’m not worried, however I’m additionally enjoying.
KARL: Component of this entire conflict that we see occurring throughout the means, you’re still a Home participant, mores than the financial debt ceiling. Trump desires the financial debt ceiling to be increased .
CURTIS: Yeah. I–
KARL: And he’s stating if it does not occur, you recognize, close the federal government down. I suggest, he informed me this straight.
CURTIS: So a great deal of individuals ask me when I claim I’m in some cases mosting likely to have my distinctions with the head of state, what– offer me an example. And I’ll simply inform you from my previous solution with him at the very same time, it’s investing. Utah is just one of one of the most penny-pinching put on the world.
KARL: So you would not prefer this concept of getting rid of the financial debt ceiling and–
CURTIS: No, and not just that, we need to do even more to control our investing. Which is a huge bargain in Utah. That’s what my components anticipate me to do. And I would certainly claim among the largest factors they sent me right here.
KARL: And you do not believe Trump is especially significant regarding controling investing?
CURTIS: We’ll see. I suggest, this entire Elon Musk and Vivek [Ramaswamy] point, allow’s see. Allow’s, allow’s see if he really discovers cuts. Pay attention, I was the mayor of my city, and I needed to have a well balanced budget plan, and I made cuts. And we, we did it effectively. We really boosted spirits by making cuts. And you can– there are great ways and poor methods to make these cuts.
KARL: And when you speak with Head of state Trump, due to the fact that you will.
CURTIS: Yes.
KARL: What are you mosting likely to inform him?
CURTIS: I desire him to be hugely effective. I’m mosting likely to be wind at his back on points like rising cost of living. I desire him to bring tranquility worldwide. I intend to manage the boundary scenario, and, and, and I’m actually there for him. I intend to be valuable. And, ‘Mr. Head of state, every now and then, I’m mosting likely to differ with you. And it will certainly be considerate. And I believe when I differ with you, it will certainly be valuable. And I wish you’ll pay attention to me.’
