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.

New operator for 16-screen theater to step in days after Showcase departs
From backyard patches to fairground weigh-offs, New England’s passionate giant-pumpkin growers nurture their orange behemoths through months of care, competition, and community
Documentary filmmaker highlights the nation’s complicated history during State House visit ahead of next month’s PBS series premiere
Caregiver ‘blindsided’ by letter announcing end of discount Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 1
Low vacancy rates continue to challenge Rhode Island apartment hunters
The report tracks how the Diocese of Providence responded to allegations — and which priests were allowed to remain in the priesthood