President Donald Trump has explained why he held back from making daylight saving time a major political issue before the midterm elections, saying he did not want certain Republican senators to lose their races in a landslide. In a Truth Social post Wednesday, just one day after the midterm elections, Trump renewed his criticism of the Senate for failing to approve the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent across most of the United States. Trump complained about the early sunsets following Sunday's clock change, saying it was already dark outside shortly after 5 p.m.
"Too bad the Senate has not yet approved the Sunshine Protection Act or, the I Don’t Want to Change My Clocks Anymore Act," Trump wrote. "It's so dark outside, so early (Sunset was 5:06 P.M., and it was dark by 5:31 P.M. — Isn't that ridiculous?). Just a few days ago it was so nice and sunny at this same time." He then explained why he had not pushed the issue more aggressively before Americans went to the polls.
"I didn't want to make a big deal out of this prior to the Election because I didn't want to have certain Senators lose their Race, in a landslide, but it is too bad they can't get it done," Trump wrote. He did not identify which senators he believed would have lost their races. The comments came as Democrats celebrated major victories in the midterms, including gains that shifted control of Congress, leaving Republicans facing a difficult political landscape heading into the next legislative session Trump promised to continue pushing for the legislation, despite saying, "We have far bigger priorities, but I will keep fighting for this!" Daylight saving time ended in the United States on Sunday, November 1, when clocks were turned back one hour at 2 a.m. local time.
The annual change marked the return to standard time, meaning Americans gained an extra hour of sleep but also experienced earlier sunsets. Under current federal law, daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. In 2026, daylight saving time ran from March 8 until November 1, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The practice is observed in most of the United States, although Hawaii and most of Arizona do not participate. U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands also do not observe daylight saving time.
The twice-yearly clock changes have remained a source of debate among lawmakers, businesses and Americans who argue that changing clocks disrupts sleep schedules and daily routines. The Sunshine Protection Act is legislation designed to make daylight saving time permanent across most of the United States, eliminating the need to turn clocks forward in March and back in November. The legislation has received bipartisan support in Congress, although disagreements over its potential effects have prevented it from becoming law.
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