Rhode Island State Senator Gives President Trump an ‘A’ for First Weeks in Office

State Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz of North Smithfield says Donald Trump is following through on his campaign promises in many areas, including domestic spending, foreign tariffs, and immigration policy

State Senator Jessica de la Cruz of North Smithfield.
State Senator Jessica de la Cruz of North Smithfield.
Capitol TV
1 min read
Share
State Senator Jessica de la Cruz of North Smithfield.
State Senator Jessica de la Cruz of North Smithfield.
Capitol TV
Rhode Island State Senator Gives President Trump an ‘A’ for First Weeks in Office
Copy

Interview highlights:

On President Trump’s performance in his first weeks in office

Jessica de la Cruz: I would say [he gets] an A. He campaigned on these promises and now he’s following through. I just feel that sometimes if I put my phone down for a couple of hours, I’ve missed what could be two days worth of news, but he is moving at lightning speed.

On President Trump’s proposed takeover of Gaza

de la Cruz: I don’t know much about the plan. I’ve only just heard that he made the statement about developing Gaza. I don’t think that means that we’re gonna have a 51st state. He’s a developer. If he’s talking about developing Gaza, that would be my assumption along that line. Once more information comes out, then I could speak more authoritatively on it.

On response to President Trump’s proposed federal funding freeze

de la Cruz: I heard from a lot of people. Some of them were really happy with it. Some of them were very concerned. Some of them were administrators in the state who said we’re concerned about this agency and that agency. I get that concern because if there’s a pause on funding, people automatically question, ‘Well, are we going to have the funding necessary to pay our employees and pay this vendor?’ Those are valid concerns, but a pause in funding to review whether or not funding is being allocated properly and being used prudently, I’m not against that. I think everybody, including a family budget, needs to be reviewed to ensure that we’re spending money properly and it’s not being spent frivolously.

This interview was conducted by The Public’s Radio. You can read the entire story here.

A power struggle in the city’s troubled police department has blocked an interim chief from serving permanently, and cost her predecessor a job
Don Fox’s luxury sweater company faces soaring import costs due to Trump’s trade war with China — but in a Rhode Island town turning deep red, economic pain hasn’t shaken political faith
Consumers will have to wait until 2027 to see the results of the administration’s negotiations
Cranston Street Armory lands seven-month lease as production hub for untitled thriller; collaboration with Nicholas Sparks expected to create thousands of local jobs
Dropouts come days before meeting on SouthCoast Wind cable review
Decision to come on oil and gas company’s push to toss 2018 complaint
At a senior center in Providence, Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. Seth Magaziner blast Trump-era cuts to Social Security staffing and services, urging Americans to “take them at their word” and push back before it’s too late