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
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.

Gov. Dan McKee announced he will allow the $14.34 billion spending plan passed by the General Assembly to become law without his signature
‘Your life isn’t made important by the internet and the phone. It’s made by the things you do and the people you surround yourself with, and the way you treat them’
Communities across the U.S. could lose critical public broadcasting support as bipartisan Senate voices challenge $9B in proposed cuts, calling them politically driven and potentially harmful
Housing, cats, AG’s office come out on top. Plus, Republicans make a plan for 2026