Donald Trump Declares End to Daylight Saving Time Debate | US News
Donald Trump has expressed his desire to abolish daylight saving time throughout the United States, claiming it will lead to financial savings.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, he indicated that he would advocate for the discontinuation of the clock changes that occur every spring and autumn.
“The Republican Party will work diligently to eliminate Daylight Saving Time (DST), which does have a small yet vocal supporter base, but really shouldn’t!”
“Daylight Saving Time is a nuisance and a significant expense for our Nation,” Mr. Trump noted.
In the US, many states advance their clocks by one hour in March and turn them back by one hour in November to make better use of daylight in the summer.
This practice has been a topic of heated discussion not only in the US but also internationally, including in the UK.
Is it time to stop adjusting the clocks?
DST was initially implemented in Germany during World War I as a response to wartime coal shortages and air raid blackouts.
The UK quickly followed suit, and while the US experimented with DST briefly, it was only for seven months and did not return until 1942 during World War II.
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DST has been observed in most US states since the 1960s, although some states like Arizona and Hawaii do not adjust their clocks at all.
Proponents of keeping DST argue that it results in brighter afternoons and evenings, thus boosting economic activity during winter.
Opponents contend that it forces children to walk to school in the dark, delaying sunrise by an hour, and the biannual clock changes can disrupt sleep patterns and lead to health issues.
The president-elect has gained some backing for his initiative to eliminate DST completely.
Since 2015, approximately 30 states have introduced or enacted legislation to cease the biannual clock changes, with some states suggesting they would do so only if neighboring states agree.
In March 2022, the US Senate voted unanimously in favor of making DST permanent but the proposal stalled in the House due to a lack of consensus among lawmakers.
