Trump Pressures Senator Cotton to Support Permanent Daylight Saving Time

President Donald Trump on Saturday urged Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas to support a bill aimed at making daylight saving time permanent. He encouraged Americans to call what appeared to be Cotton's personal cellphone number. The Sunshine Protection Act passed the House in July but faces opposition in the Senate from some Republicans. Proponents, including the White House, argue that the change would provide more daylight during active hours, while opponents express concerns about darker winter mornings for children waiting for school buses and parents driving to work. Trump emphasized the inconvenience of changing clocks twice a year, stating, "It's a lot of work for a lot of people, running around for two days, changing all the clocks in the house." He criticized Cotton for his opposition to the bill, saying, "So, everyone in Arkansas, a State I love, and won 3 times, the last by 34 points, tell Tom to, GET IT DONE!" Cotton responded by reiterating his opposition, citing concerns about late sunrises in winter. A 2025 poll indicated that most Americans prefer to keep the extra hour of evening daylight, with only 12% favoring the current system of changing clocks twice a year. The Senate had previously passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, but it did not advance in the House. Cotton, who is up for reelection, has been a vocal opponent of the policy, stating, "Arkansans don't want their kids going to school in the pitch dark, and I'll always put Arkansas first." Trump countered Cotton's arguments, suggesting that permanent daylight saving time would benefit Arkansans. The debate over daylight saving time has been ongoing since it was first adopted during World War II, and Congress has explored its potential benefits and drawbacks over the years.