Donald Trump Pushes to End Daylight Saving Time, Calls It “Expensive and Unpleasant” for Americans
Washington D.C:In a statement released on social media, newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced strong support for ending Daylight Saving Time (DST), calling it not only inconvenient but also costly for Americans. Trump emphasized that his party would work towards eliminating the practice, which involves shifting clocks forward in the spring and back in the fall.
### Trump’s Criticism of Daylight Saving Time
Trump criticized DST, describing it as “unpleasant” and “expensive” for the American public. His comments are part of a broader political conversation on whether the United States should permanently adopt Standard Time or continue the biannual clock changes. Notably, some of Trump’s nominated cabinet members, including tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, have also recently voiced support for ending the biannual clock changes.
### Growing Support for Ending Clock Changes
According to foreign media reports, various surveys indicate that the practice of changing clocks has lost its appeal for many American voters. Key members of Trump’s incoming administration, along with several Republican senators, have long supported eliminating DST, and if the change is implemented, it could significantly affect daily routines and how people start and end their day.
### What is Daylight Saving Time?
In most U.S. states, clocks are set forward by one hour in March to make better use of daylight during the longer summer days, and then set back one hour in November. Some U.S. experts support maintaining “Standard Time” year-round, under which clocks would stay at the current schedule from November to March. This would result in more morning daylight and less daylight in the evening, better aligning with the body’s natural circadian rhythm, according to medical professionals.
On the other hand, some groups advocate for permanent Daylight Saving Time, which would extend evening daylight, with later sunsets and reduced morning light. This proposal has the backing of business and retail groups who believe more evening daylight would boost economic activity.
### Historical Context and Attempts to Change DST
While many Americans believe that Daylight Saving Time was introduced to help farmers, it was actually first implemented during World War I to increase industrial productivity. In the 1970s, during the gas crisis, there were efforts to make DST permanent. However, public support waned after concerns grew about children waiting for school buses in the dark, leading to more accidents.
### Current Situation
Some U.S. regions, including Hawaii and parts of Arizona, do not observe Daylight Saving Time. In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed a law to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, but the bill did not pass in the House of Representatives.
With Trump’s potential backing, it remains to be seen whether the U.S. will finally put an end to the tradition of changing clocks or move in another direction. The growing debate reflects changing attitudes towards timekeeping and its impact on modern life, health, and the economy.
