President Donald Trump took to social media on Saturday urging Arkansans to call Sen. Tom Cotton’s personal cellphone and pressure the senator to support the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States.
Trump’s call to action
In a post on X, Trump wrote, “For some reason, Tom is stopping the Bill and, in the Senate, it’s very easy to do, it only takes one! So, everyone in Arkansas, a State I love, and won 3 times, the last by 34 points, tell Tom to, GET IT DONE! It will be appreciated by all.” He added that a permanent shift would give professional golfers more time on the greens. The former president included an Arkansas‑area code phone number in the message; the Associated Press called the number, but the line went to voicemail.
Cotton’s opposition
Sen. Tom Cotton, a member of Republican leadership, responded later on X, reiterating his opposition. “No one likes changing the clock, me included, but Congress has enacted permanent Daylight Savings Time multiple times before and repealed it each time once Americans experienced absurdly late sunrises in the winter,” Cotton wrote. “Arkansans don’t want their kids going to school in the pitch dark, and I’ll always put Arkansas first.” Cotton’s stance reflects concerns from many Republicans that a year‑round schedule would create darker winter mornings for schoolchildren and commuters.
Legislative background
The Sunshine Protection Act cleared the House of Representatives in July but now faces hurdles in the Senate, where several Republican senators have voiced strong opposition. The bill would allow states to opt out if their legislatures act before enactment, preserving some flexibility for states that prefer the current system.
Public opinion
A 2025 poll conducted by the AP‑NORC Center for Public Affairs Research asked U.S. adults whether they would keep the extra hour of daylight in the evening if a permanent change were forced. Only 12% favored retaining the current twice‑year clock change, while 47% opposed it and 40% were neutral. The poll’s methodology, including sample size and margin of error, was not detailed in the source.
Historical context
Daylight saving time, first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942, has been revisited by Congress multiple times. A Senate bill four years ago also sought to make the change permanent but stalled in the House. Proponents, including the White House, argue that a permanent schedule would provide more daylight during the hours most Americans are active, potentially benefiting businesses and recreation.
Critics’ concerns
Opponents warn that permanent daylight saving time would result in darker winter mornings, creating safety hazards for children waiting for school buses and for parents commuting to work. The issue has sparked debate among parents, educators, and transportation officials who worry about increased risk on dark roads.
What’s next?
The Senate will continue to consider the Sunshine Protection Act. With the president publicly urging constituents to contact a specific senator, the political pressure on Cotton and other holdouts may intensify. Whether the bill can overcome intra‑party opposition remains to be seen.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
