Two months into his second term, nearly 6 out of every 10 Rhode Islanders disapprove of Donald Trump’s performance as president, according to a new University of New Hampshire (UNH) poll.
The survey of 656 Rhode Islanders conducted online and by text message between March 20 and 24, found 40% approve of Trump’s performance so far, while 59% had negative views of his handling of foreign and domestic affairs.
UNH’s poll has a 3.8% margin of error.
The top reason for disapproving of the president was concern that he is undermining democracy or the U.S. Constitution, cited by 21% of opponents. Among those who approve of Trump’s second term, 27% pointed to his handling of immigration as their main reason for support.
Trump’s unpopularity was weighed by overwhelming disapproval — 94% — from registered Democrats, who made up 53% of those surveyed.
Democrats make up 36% of the electorate, according to data compiled by the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s office. Republicans make up 15% of the state’s registered voters. The biggest swath of voters — 49% — are unaffiliated with either party.
Rhode Islanders also disapproved of his handling of the economy, use of tariffs and the potential for a recession, along with his handling of the war in Ukraine.
On the economy, only one-third of Rhode Island residents polled by UNH approve of Trump’s use of tariffs. Nearly all Democrats — 93% — disapproved of the taxes placed on imports. Eighty percent of Rhode Island Republicans and half of Independents surveyed support the policy.
UNH’s poll also found that 61% of Rhode Islanders disavowed Trump’s handling of the war in Ukraine and the president’s assertions over who is responsible for the conflict. Trump has alluded to the idea that Ukraine started the war in 2022, but 78% of those polled believe that Russia is either entirely or mostly responsible.
A majority of Rhode Islanders do approve of one plank of Trump’s agenda: banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. The UNH poll found that 65% of respondents believe transgender female athletes should “definitely not” be able to compete in contests with cis women.
Rhode Islanders are slightly more accepting of transgender athletes in men’s sports, with 56% of respondents believing they should not be allowed to compete.
Those surveyed were divided on who should set athletic policies, with 44% favoring a federal decision, 40% supporting state-level action, and the rest unsure.
This story was originally published by the Rhode Island Current.
