President Donald Trump released the personal cellphone number of Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) on social media Saturday, intensifying his campaign to pass legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. The move came amid mounting frustration over the stalled Sunshine Protection Act, a bill that would eliminate the biannual clock changes by establishing year-round daylight saving time.
Trump, who has long advocated for ending the semiannual time shifts, posted Cotton’s number on Truth Social, urging constituents in Arkansas to contact the senator and push him to support the bill. “Everyone in Arkansas, a State I love, and won 3 times, the last by 34 points, tell Tom to, GET IT DONE!” Trump wrote, also sharing a letter from the PGA Tour CEO backing the legislation for its potential benefits to outdoor activities and sports like golf.
The Sunshine Protection Act passed the House overwhelmingly in July but has encountered resistance in the Senate, where it faces a higher threshold to overcome a filibuster and no clear path to approval before the November midterm elections. The bill would allow most states to adopt permanent daylight saving time, while giving others the option to remain on standard time year-round.
Cotton, a frequent Trump ally, remains a leading opponent of the measure. He has argued that permanent daylight saving time would result in excessively late winter sunrises, which could pose safety concerns for children heading to school in the dark. In a response posted on X (formerly Twitter), Cotton wrote, “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changing the clock, me included, but Congress has enacted permanent Daylight Savings Time multiple times before and repealed it each time once Americans experienced absurdly late sunrises in the winter.” He added, “Arkansans don’t want their kids going to school in the pitch dark, and I’ll always put Arkansas first.” His office did not provide further comment beyond referencing this statement.
The issue of changing clocks has long been contentious. The U.S. experimented with permanent daylight saving time in the 1970s but reversed course after public complaints. Medical experts and some lawmakers, particularly from Midwestern states, continue to raise concerns about health risks and circadian rhythm disruptions caused by year-round daylight saving time. Organizations like the American Academy of Sleep Medicine favor year-round standard time as more aligned with human biology.
Supporters of the Sunshine Protection Act argue that extending evening daylight would benefit public safety, reduce crime—citing President Trump’s assertion that criminals avoid working in daylight—and promote economic and recreational activities. Public opinion polls reflect a desire to end clock changes, though Americans remain divided between favoring permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time.
This is not the first time Trump has shared a senator’s personal phone number as a political tactic; he previously disclosed Senator Lindsey Graham’s number during the 2016 Republican primary contest but later acknowledged that the move was inappropriate. The revelation of Cotton’s number sparked debate over privacy and decorum in political discourse, with responses varying among observers.
As the Senate stalls on daylight saving time legislation, the issue is expected to remain a topic of national conversation, with potential implications depending on election outcomes and future Congressional sessions.