United States President Donald Trump has intensified his call for US Senate Republicans to pass legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent. In a social media post on Saturday, Trump criticized Senator Tom Cotton for delaying the Sunshine Protection Act, which Trump has referred to as the "No More Changing of Clocks Act." Trump stated, "For some reason, Tom is stopping the Bill and, in the Senate, it’s very easy to do, it only takes one! It should pass overwhelmingly, in a Bipartisan fashion." He expressed that having more sunshine in the afternoon is preferable to early morning light.
Trump also published what he claimed was Cotton’s phone number, urging Arkansas residents to contact him. This action was reminiscent of a previous incident during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries when Trump shared Senator Lindsey Graham’s number after Graham criticized him. Al Jazeera attempted to call the number listed in Trump’s post, but received an automated message indicating that the voicemail box was full. Neither Cotton’s spokesperson nor the White House responded to requests for comment.
The president has consistently urged Senate Republicans to approve legislation that would eliminate the biannual clock changes, which he argues is inconvenient for Americans. The bill passed the US House in July with a vote of 308-117. Cotton has previously voiced opposition to the bill, citing concerns that it would lead to children commuting to school in the dark during winter months. Trump countered this argument, suggesting that the legislation would benefit the Republican Party and Arkansas residents by providing more daylight.
Additionally, Trump mentioned the benefits for the North American Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) tour, stating that more afternoon daylight would help complete tournaments. He included a letter from PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp supporting the bill. Trump also shared feedback from a group of people who expressed dissatisfaction with returning home in the dark after a time change, describing it as "depressing."
In 1974, Congress briefly implemented year-round daylight saving time due to an energy crisis but repealed it within a year due to safety concerns. Currently, US senators have left Washington and do not plan to return until after the November 3 midterm elections. Some senators, including John Kennedy, have expressed skepticism about the bill's chances of being voted on before the elections, with Kennedy stating, "It’s dead as disco."