'I’m not a rubber stamp': This new Senate Republican could stall Trump’s agenda

Republicans control the U.S. Senate by a 53-47 margin, but the newest member of the Senate Republican Conference may prove to be a thorn in President Donald Trump's side over the next four years.

On Tuesday, the Christian Science Monitor published an interview with Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), who was recently elected to replace the outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) after he retired from politics. Curtis already made waves despite being a senator for less than a month, after he made it clear that former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) would not have his support to lead the Department of Justice. He's since said that Trump is "far better served" with former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his second attorney general nominee.

Because Republicans can only afford four defections, Curtis is expected to play a significant role in whether some of Trump's more controversial Cabinet appointments are ultimately confirmed by the full Senate. While the Utah Republican ultimately voted in favor of confirming former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to be the next defense secretary, he's been cagey about whether he would back Director of National Intelligence-designate Tulsi Gabbard, whose confirmation hearing in the Senate Intelligence Committee is scheduled for later this week.

READ MORE: 'She lied to us': Ex-Gabbard staffers speak out about 'insane' meeting with Syrian dictator

Hegseth was only confirmed after Vice President JD Vance had to cast the tie-breaking vote, with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voting no. If those three remain opposed to Trump's most contentious Cabinet appointments, Curtis' vote could prove impactful in deciding the makeup of the Trump administration.

"I view myself as somebody who has commitment to my constitutional responsibility – and I’m not a rubber stamp," Curtis told the Monitor.

The outlet noted that like his predecessor, Curtis is a Mormon, and that members of the Mormon church are typically warmer toward immigrants than other Republicans. In a January op-ed for the Hill, Curtis recalled one instance in which he watched a migrant get arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and argued that Trump's mass deportation agenda was not being "wielded with a proper portion of compassion."

“I saw in his eyes both his plight and my role in trying to fix this human crisis,” Curtis wrote. “No words were spoken, yet the look in his eyes seemed to be asking me the question, ‘How can you be letting this go on?’ He was the one in handcuffs, yet I felt as though I was the one who had failed.”

READ MORE: 'Terrified': Senator describes death threats lobbed at Republicans who opposed Hegseth

Click here to read the Monitor's full article.