Does Trump Want to End Daylight Saving Time? Here’s What You Need to Know

Daylight Saving Time: The tradition of moving clocks forward and back twice every year in the US has long been a matter of controversy. Some people consider it convenient, while others consider it wasteful and troublesome. Both scientists and politicians have been giving their opinions on this. There has been a debate on whether it affects sleep patterns, changing the clock every six months is a hassle and how effective it is in saving energy.

Now former President Donald Trump and billionaire businessman Elon Musk have openly expressed their opinions in this debate. In this article, let us know what could be the political future of Daylight Saving Time (DST) in America.

Does Donald Trump want to end Daylight Saving Time?

Donald Trump posted on his social media account in December 2024:

“The Republican Party will do everything possible to end Daylight Saving Time. It has a small but strong support base. But it shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient and expensive for our country.”

However, in a press conference shortly after this, he did not take any concrete stand on this issue. When asked to take a concrete decision on Daylight Saving Time, he described it as an issue of “fifty-fifty,” i.e., equal support and opposition.

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“It is something I can do, but many people like it one way and many like it the other way.”

This statement of Trump shows that he is not fully committed to this issue, but he is seriously considering it.

What did Elon Musk do?

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk showed his interest in this debate and conducted a poll on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

He asked people that if Daylight Saving Time is abolished in America, what would they like – to move the time forward or backward by one hour?

👉 More than 1.3 million people participated in this poll.
👉 58% of people supported moving the time forward.
👉 42% of people supported rolling it back.

This poll made it clear that public opinion is divided on this issue, and it will not be easy to take a single decision on it.

Will the US Congress take any decision on this?

A proposal to permanently abolish daylight saving time was previously brought to Congress, but it could never become a law.

It was approved by the Senate in 2022, but it could not be passed in the House of Representatives.
In January 2025, Senators Rick Scott and Vern Buchanan have once again tried to get this law passed.
If this bill is passed, daylight saving time will be in force in the US throughout the year, and the tradition of changing the clock will end.

Have some US states already implemented it?

Florida is at the forefront in this matter. In 2018, the state passed a law called the “Sunshine Protection Act” that would allow Florida to always be on daylight saving time, without the need to change clocks back and forth.

However, the law needed federal approval to go into effect, which has not yet been granted.

Status of other states:

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 20 states have passed similar laws since 2015.
But they need congressional approval to go into effect.
If approved by Congress, all of these states could implement daylight saving time all year round.

What does public opinion say about daylight saving time?

People in the US are divided into two groups. Some people consider it a good way to save energy and increase productivity, while others consider it wasteful and a hassle.

Arguments in favor of daylight saving time:

✅ Gets the most out of daylight.
✅ Electricity consumption can be reduced.
✅ Outdoor activities and businesses benefit from more light in the evening.

Arguments against Daylight Saving Time:

❌ Changing the clock every year affects sleep patterns.
❌ Some scientists consider it harmful to health.
❌ It is inconvenient for many industries, especially time-dependent businesses.

Will Trump implement this change?

Trump is interested in this issue, but it is not clear whether he will include it in his political plan.

If Congress passes this law, Trump or any future president may be forced to implement it.
For now, it will be interesting to see what new update comes on this issue in the coming months.

Will the US once again end the tradition of ‘changing the clock,’ or will this debate continue like this?

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Conclusion

Daylight saving time has long been a topic of debate in the US and has now become a part of political discussion as well.

🔹 Trump is in favor of this change, but he has not yet taken a firm decision on it.
🔹 Elon Musk took public opinion through a poll, in which most people were in favor of “moving the clock forward.”
🔹 20 other states, including Florida, have tried to adopt this change, but the final decision is in the hands of Congress.

It remains to be seen whether daylight saving time will really become history or whether the American public will have to maintain the habit of moving their clocks forward and backward twice every year!

FAQs

Q. What is Daylight Saving Time (DST)?

A. Daylight Saving Time is the practice of moving clocks forward by one hour in spring and back by one hour in fall to make better use of daylight.

Q. Why is there a debate about ending DST in the U.S.?

A. Many people find DST inconvenient due to disrupted sleep patterns and its questionable impact on energy savings, while others believe it helps productivity and businesses.

Q. What is Donald Trump’s stance on DST?

A. Donald Trump has expressed interest in ending DST, calling it inconvenient and costly, but he has not fully committed to making it a political priority.

Q. How did Elon Musk contribute to the debate?

A. Elon Musk conducted a public poll on his platform X (formerly Twitter), where 58% of respondents supported keeping the clocks one hour ahead year-round.