Trump urges calls to Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton in push for permanent daylight saving time

President Donald Trump urged Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas to back a bill aiming to make daylight saving time permanent throughout the United States. In a push to secure the support, Trump requested Americans to call Cotton's personal cellphone number, which he listed as being from Arkansas. The Sunshine Protection Act had previously passed the House of Representatives in July, but it encountered opposition in the Senate, particularly from certain Republicans.

Proponents argue that permanent daylight saving time would provide more daylight during the peak activity hours for most Americans, while opponents argue that it would result in darker and potentially more dangerous mornings for children waiting for school buses and parents commuting to work. The bill allows states to opt-out if their respective legislatures decide to do so before its enactment.

Trump cited a 2025 poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which revealed that most Americans would prefer to maintain the extra hour of daylight in the evening. Despite some Republican opposition, including Senator Tom Cotton, the bill continues to gain traction.