Trump pushes for permanent daylight saving time: ‘It’s so dark outside, so early’

WASHINGTON D.C. (Gray News/AP) — President Donald Trump renewed his call to end the twice-yearly clock change by making daylight saving time permanent.

“Too bad the Senate has not yet approved the Sunshine Protection Act or, the I Don’t Want to Change My Clocks Anymore Act. It’s so dark outside, so early (Sunset was 5:06 P.M., and it was dark by 5:31 P.M. — Isn’t that ridiculous?),” the president said on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Daylight saving time is that period between spring and fall when clocks in most parts of the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time.

On July 14, the House approved a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent. The vote was 308-117. However, the bill did not pass the Senate before Americans switched their clocks on Nov. 1.

Supporters argue that ending the time change would provide more daylight when Americans are most active. But opponents say commuters in some states wouldn’t see the sun until after 9 a.m.

Congress passed a law in 1973 establishing year-round daylight saving time as an experiment, which began in 1974. Lawmakers ended the experiment early as support declined, partly because of concern for children walking to school in the dark.

Trump, with the GOP coming off a shaky midterm election, promised to keep working to get the bill to his desk.

“I didn’t want to make a big deal out of this prior to the Election because I didn’t want to have certain Senators lose their Race, in a landslide, but it is too bad they can’t get it done,” the president said. “The House sent it over to the Senate with great bipartisan support, numerous times (308-117), but the Senate didn’t take it up. We have far bigger priorities, but I will keep fighting for this!”