Utah Rep. Blake 'Mormon' brings laughs, admits college crush on Fox News host

WASHINGTON — Utah Rep. Blake Moore spoke at this year's Washington Press Club Foundation Dinner, where he poked fun at himself and his home state.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., introduced Moore to the stage, saying, "It's a great honor, and without further ado, it's my privilege to introduce our featured speaker, Congressman Blake Mormon. I mean Moore."

Moore began his speech by referencing a Fox News clip where Dana Perino provided commentary as Americans waited for President Donald Trump to arrive at the National Prayer Service.

Perino described what was happening on camera as people filed into their seats. "There you see Speaker (Mike) Johnson and Mike Lawler, the Congressman from New York ... and I can't get a read on the guy to his left. Nope, stumped." Perino said, "Nope, looks like many other people."

After reading a transcription of the clip to the audience, Moore said, "Funny. It's funny you're laughing. You're enjoying the evening. But just so we're clear, everyone here is good with the tall, white, handsome Mormon guys in the GOP, we all just look alike."

He continued, "I've actually always been a very big Dana Perino fan. I'm not ashamed to admit that I had a crush on her in the (George W.) Bush 43 days, so that clip definitely hurt. There's no way around it. And you know what, insult to injury, she knows Mike Lawler."

Moore explained the unfairness of Perino knowing Lawler and not him. "He's my mentee, let's get this straight, he's my mentee," he said. "In the GOP, there's the big brother, sister, little brother, sister program — he's my little brother. And there's Mike Lawler, the congressman, future governor from New York. Gets his name ID. Likes to go on Jake Tapper every chance he gets. Show pony. I'm a work horse," Moore joked.

Rep. Moore pokes fun at Utah culture

"I represent northern Utah, and before you ask, yes, I know about the Hulu show," Moore said, referencing "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," interrupted by laughs.

He continued, "Yes, we do drink 44-ounce Diet Coke; dirty Diet Coke is our main vice. Yes, we have a ton of kids. Yes, we spell their names wrong. Yes, there's a church on every corner. But no, those women are not my constituents. Those women on the Hulu show are not my constituents, nor are they my wives."

Then Moore paused to recognize Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, who also attended the event. "Utah Sen. John Curtis is here; I won't speak for him on that," he said.

Utah representation in the House DOGE Caucus

Moore is on the Budget and Ways and Means Committee and the Trade Subcommittee. During his speech, he explained how he was asked to be the co-chairman of the House Department of Government Efficiency Caucus as well.

However, Moore explained, there is not only one co-chairman but three.

"Nothing says reduced bureaucracy quite like putting three co-chairs over a caucus intended to increase efficiency and streamline government," he said.

However, Moore joked he is well fitted for the role as he is a "former puffy vest wearing management consultant." He added, "I'm already working on a slide deck to solve all of our problems."

House of Representatives may see first ever Utah speaker soon

After telling the audience a bit about leadership roles he's had in the House so far, Moore added, "I serve as the House Republican vice chair, and I really enjoy my role as vice chair."

"But I will admit, it's taken me longer to become speaker than I expected," he said.

Moore continued, "It took Mike Johnson 33 months, and I'm on month 15 of the job. And with Matt Gaetz gone, hold for applause — wait, not, OK, wasn't supposed to read that part — and with Matt Gaetz gone, I don't know if I'll ever get the chance."f

Moore says there's never been a better time to be a Republican

"It truly is a great time to be a Republican in Washington," he said. "Aside from the obvious Republican trifecta that we've just ushered in with Trump in the White House, the Republican majority in the Senate and the House majority that kind of depends on the day, Republicans have gained so much since the dark days of January 2021."

Moore explained what he believes Republicans have recently taken from Democrats. "We took the Senate, we took the White House, we took Elon from y'all," he said.

The list expanded. "Electric vehicles are ours now, not the tax credit, but just the cars," Moore said. "Meta came on board finally, all of the oligarchs actually. Tulsi, Bill Maher most of the time. We took the popular vote. For crying out loud, we even took a Kennedy."

"In fact, President (Joe) Biden had to give the Medal of Freedom to George Soros on his way out the door to stop us from taking him too. And from the looks of the bright red suit, the big smile on her face on Election Day, I think it's safe to say that we took Dr. Jill as well," Moore concluded.

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