Senate Stalemate on Daylight Saving Time Sparks GOP Debate
WHO:
Alternet - Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated, “The president feels strongly on it like he does a lot of issues.”
Alternet - Thune mentioned, “I’m from a northern clime,” in reference to his opposition to the Sunshine Protection Act.
Alternet - President Donald Trump is advocating for the Sunshine Protection Act.
Alternet - Senate Majority Leader John Thune is a top Senate Republican expressing skepticism about the bill.
Fox News - Senator Tom Cotton is mentioned in relation to the Sunshine Protection Act.
WHAT:
Alternet - Trump expressed that the practice of changing clocks costs the country a fortune and is detrimental to various aspects of life, stating, “A ridiculous Clock changing process that takes place twice a year... People don’t want to go around changing their Clocks anymore.”
Alternet - Trump is pushing for a bill to implement permanent Daylight Saving Time, which would eliminate the need to change clocks twice a year.
Alternet - The Sunshine Protection Act previously passed in the House with bipartisan support, with a vote of 308 to 117.
Alternet - Thune stated that the bill has "no clear path forward" in the Senate.
Fox News - Trump shared Tom Cotton's phone number to pressure him regarding the Sunshine Protection Act.
WHERE:
Alternet - The discussions regarding the Sunshine Protection Act are taking place in the U.S. Senate.
Alternet - Thune mentioned the impact of the bill on his home state of South Dakota.
WHY:
Alternet - Trump is pushing for the Sunshine Protection Act as he looks for ideas that voters are generally supportive of amid widespread voter antipathy to his agenda.
Alternet - Trump is seeking ideas that voters generally support amid widespread voter antipathy to his agenda.
Alternet - Critics, including lawmakers, warn of drawbacks such as dark winter mornings and disrupted sleep patterns.
HOW:
Alternet - Trump took to Truth Social to express his views on the clock-changing process, implying that a large part of his passion for the change was because it would benefit golfers.
Alternet - Trump has taken to Truth Social to express his views on the clock-changing process, stating it costs the country a fortune and is detrimental to various aspects of life.
(UPDATED October 6, 2026 18:02 UTC)
Trump is advocating for the Sunshine Protection Act, arguing that the practice of changing clocks is costly and burdensome, stating, “A ridiculous Clock changing process that takes place twice a year... People don’t want to go around changing their Clocks anymore.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune noted that Trump feels strongly about this issue, although he personally opposes the act, saying, “I’m from a northern clime.” Trump shared his thoughts on Truth Social, suggesting that his enthusiasm for the change is partly driven by its potential benefits for golfers.
--
(UPDATED October 6, 2026 17:06 UTC)
President Trump is advocating for the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill aimed at implementing permanent Daylight Saving Time to eliminate the need for clock changes twice a year. While the House previously passed the bill with bipartisan support, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has expressed skepticism, stating there is "no clear path forward" in the Senate, and Trump has even shared Senator Tom Cotton's phone number to apply pressure on him regarding the legislation. Critics of the bill warn of potential drawbacks, including dark winter mornings and disrupted sleep patterns, as discussions continue in the U.S. Senate.