New poll, State of the Union reactions show RI divided on Trump. Here's how.

"Core inflation is at its lowest point in five years, gas prices are down, the stock market has hit record after record. ... No tax on tips and overtime is helping workers keep more of what they earn. ... [and] TrumpRx is making prescription drugs more affordable," he said.

While "Republican fixes are making lives better," Meyers said Rhode Islanders have been "reduced to helpless spectators, watching our nation’s economy surge forward while one-party Democrat rule has left working families with crushing taxes, stunted growth, and broken bridges."

State Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Beretta-Perik said what struck her most about the speech was the image of Sen. Mark Kelly "sitting dignified and resolute as the president tried to goad him with his classic 'let’s divide Americans' rhetoric."

“Senator Mark Kelly, who has been the target of a vicious prosecution by the Secretary of Defense, said the reason he showed up last night was that he wanted to show President Trump that he hadn’t won," Perik said.

“What a great message for all of us," Perik said.

“When we take to the streets peacefully to protest ICE ... [and] fight efforts to federalize elections and institute the SAVE Act we are showing President Trump he hasn’t won," she said.

She said the same is true "when our congressional delegation fights to stop the out of control tyranny of the Department of Homeland Security," and that is what "2026 is about ... making sure President Trump doesn’t win, but justice, fairness and democracy does.”

What does a new poll say about Trump's popularity in Rhode Island?

Against this backdrop, the University of New Hampshire went public on Wednesday, Feb. 25, with the results of its latest poll of Rhode Islanders' views on Trump and his signature policies. Among the findings:

Approval of Trump's overall job performance "continues to slide in the Ocean State," with 65% of those surveyed saying they disapprove of Trump's overall job performance, only 35% approve and less than 1% are unsure.

Those who approve of Trump's job performance most often cited, as their reason, his handling of immigration (39%), the economy (14%), or his leadership or decisiveness (11%). Those who disapprove of Trump's performance cited his handling of immigration (20%), their belief he is "undermining democracy or the Constitution (12%), or "his poor character" "(10%).

Overall, only 36% of Rhode Island residents approve of how Trump is handling immigration, 63% disapprove, and 1% are unsure, along these partisan lines: 93% of Republicans approve of Trump's handling of immigration, but only 37% of independents and 4% of Democrats approve.

"More than six in ten Rhode Islanders endorse banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from entering schools or churches, making arrests without a judicial warrant, or covering their faces."

"Most do not trust the federal government to thoroughly investigate recent shootings by ICE agents of U.S. citizens in Minnesota and a majority [55%] in Rhode Island believe ICE has made the country less safe."

A majority – 53% – back the calls by some members of Congress for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

But 48% of those surveyed oppose calls to abolish ICE entirely, and 50% of Rhode Islanders think illegal immigration is "a very or somewhat serious problem in the state and 30% believe it is a very or somewhat serious problem in their town or city."

Overall, 703 Rhode Island residents completed the UNH survey online between Feb. 12 and Feb. 16. The margin of sampling error for the survey is plus or minus 3.7%.