Nearly 60 percent of RI residents disapprove of Trump’s performance, tariffs, and Ukraine

• The UNH poll found that 59% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of Trump’s performance, while 40% approve.
• 61% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of how Trump has handled the conflict in Ukraine, and 60% disapprove of his handling of foreign affairs overall.
• 61% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, and 58% disapprove of his use of tariffs
• Trump’s action on transgender female athletes is the only policy surveyed that most Rhode Island residents agree with.

Most Rhode Island residents disapprove of President Donald Trump’s performance, including his handling of the economy and the Ukraine conflict, revealed a new poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.

The poll found that 59% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of Trump’s performance, while 40% approve. That means two months in, his net approval rating among Rhode Islanders is -19%.

Of those who disapprove of Trump’s performance, 21% cite undermining democracy/the Constitution as their most important reason and 9% each said illegal acts and budget or government cuts.

Of those who approve, 27% said handling of immigration, 20% said keeping campaign promises, and 12% said leadership or decisiveness.

There’s a wide partisan gap in his approval, with 94% of Democrats disapproving of his performance and 88% of Republicans approving. Also, 66% of Independents in Rhode Island also approve of Trump.

While Rhode Island residents largely disapprove of his handling of foreign affairs, including the Ukraine conflict and the economy, like tariffs, many do approve of his policy on transgender athletes.

The poll is based on survey responses from 656 Rhode Island residents completed between March 20-24. The margin of error is +/- 3.8%.

Rhode Islanders disapprove of Trump’s handling of Ukraine

About 61% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of how Trump has handled the conflict in Ukraine, and 60% disapprove of his handling of foreign affairs overall.

Trump has pledged to end the war between Russia and Ukraine but has clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, most notably telling him to leave after a meeting in the Oval Office.

In Rhode Island, 78% believe that Russia is responsible for starting the war, and a plurality believe that Russia poses the greatest threat to the U.S. About 78% see Russia as a rival or enemy of the country, including majorities in both parties.

Rhode Islanders disapprove of tariffs and expect a recession

Trump has repeatedly threatened, imposed and then reversed tariffs on countries like Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. Starting April 2, Trump is set to impose a 25% tariff on imported passenger vehicles, light trucks and some auto parts.

About 61% of Rhode Island residents disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, and 58% disapprove of his use of tariffs.

While nearly all Democrats disapprove of both, 88% of Republicans and 60% of Independents approve of his handling of the economy and 80% and 50% respectively approve of tariffs.

In early March, Trump wouldn’t say whether the U.S. could face a recession this year. With that, 63% of Rhode Island residents believe that a recession is likely in the next 12 months, including 86% of Democrats, 51% of Independents, and 24% of Republicans.

Rhode Islanders agree with transgender sports policy

Trump’s action on transgender student athletes is the only policy surveyed that most Rhode Island residents agree with.

In February, Trump signed an executive order banning transgender student athletes from competing on women’s sports teams. The poll found that 66% of Rhode Island residents agree that transgender students should not be competing in women’s sports. 

However, Rhode Islanders are split on whether the federal government or state governments should decide policy on transgender participation in sports. A plurality overall, 44%, said it should be made at the federal level, including 75% of Republicans. But 40% overall, and a plurality (48%) of Democrats said it should be left up to the states.