Former U.S. President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has called for an end to daylight saving time (DST), describing the practice as “inconvenient” and “costly.”
In a statement shared on social media Friday, Trump pledged, “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation.”
Daylight saving time, which shifts clocks forward by one hour during the summer to extend evening daylight, has been in place across most of the U.S. since the 1960s. However, the practice has faced increasing criticism in recent years, with lawmakers divided on how to address it.
Some argue for permanent daylight saving time to extend brighter evenings and boost economic activity during winter. Others prefer sticking to standard time year-round, citing safety concerns, such as children walking to school in the dark during delayed sunrises. Proponents of eliminating DST entirely point to health issues and sleep disruptions caused by the biannual clock changes.
In March 2022, the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to make daylight saving time permanent. However, the measure stalled in the House of Representatives due to a lack of consensus. A bipartisan effort to revive the proposal earlier this year has seen little progress, with no hearings on the issue in over two years.
Historically, permanent daylight saving time was briefly adopted during World War II and again in 1973 to conserve energy during an oil embargo. The 1973 measure was repealed after a year due to widespread unpopularity.
Since 2015, about 30 states have introduced or passed legislation to eliminate the clock changes, with many requiring neighboring states to agree before implementation.
President Joe Biden has not publicly taken a stance on the issue. Meanwhile, Trump’s renewed focus on daylight saving time could reignite national debate as he campaigns for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
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