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Trump Targets Senator Over Daylight Saving Time
DAYTON, Ohio: US President Donald Trump escalated his dispute with Republican Senator Tom Cotton on Saturday by posting online a phone number he claimed belonged to the Arkansas lawmaker.
Trump urged people in Arkansas to contact Cotton over his opposition to legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent and eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes.
The president criticised Cotton on his Truth Social platform, saying the senator was holding up an important bill.
Senate Debate Over Permanent Daylight Saving Time
The dispute centres on the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States.
Trump argues that Americans prefer more daylight in the afternoon. Cotton, however, has opposed the proposal, warning that winter mornings would become darker for millions of people.
In a Senate speech last October, Cotton said he would continue opposing the change, arguing that it would make winter mornings and daily routines more difficult.
Most US states have followed the twice-yearly clock change since the 1960s. Clocks are scheduled to return to standard time on November 1 this year.
Bill Faces Uncertainty in the Senate
The US House of Representatives passed the legislation in July, but its future in the Senate remains uncertain.
Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said this week that he did not expect the measure to receive a vote, describing its prospects in dismissive terms.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has not been identified in the report as committing to bringing the bill forward for a vote.
Golfers and Sports Groups Support the Change
Trump has cited golfers among the groups that would benefit from permanent daylight saving time.
He shared an October 1 letter from PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp supporting the proposal, arguing that additional afternoon daylight would help tournaments finish.
Trump has also identified tennis players, hunters and farmers as supporters of the change.
Supporters generally emphasise longer evenings, while opponents raise concerns about darker winter mornings.
Previous Dispute Over a Senator’s Phone Number
The incident is not the first time Trump has publicly shared a senator’s phone number during a political dispute.
During his first presidential campaign in 2015, Trump read Senator Lindsey Graham’s phone number at a rally and criticised the South Carolina Republican.
The two later reconciled, and Graham became a prominent Trump ally in Congress.
Political Dispute Continues
The disagreement comes as Trump campaigns for Republican candidates across the country, including during a visit to Ohio on Saturday.
Cotton is seeking re-election to the Senate, although his race is not considered competitive. Trump won more than 64% of the vote in Arkansas in the 2024 presidential election.
The dispute highlights divisions among Republicans over a proposal that has received support from some business and sporting groups but continues to face opposition over its potential effects on winter mornings.
