Trump Appears to Share Tom Cotton's Phone Number in Daylight Saving Time Push

President Donald Trump appeared to share Sen. Tom Cotton's phone number in a Saturday morning social media post, urging the Arkansas Republican to support legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Trump wrote on Truth Social that nearly everyone supports the "Sunshine Protection Act" except Cotton, calling on the people of Arkansas to contact their senator and emphasize that passing the bill would represent a major bipartisan win for the Senate and the country. Trump's Monthslong Push on Daylight Saving Time The president has spent months personally lobbying Senate Republicans to end the biannual practice of changing clocks, which would lock in more evening daylight year-round. Cotton, whom Trump referred to as "a friend of mine" in Saturday's post, has long opposed the measure, arguing that permanent daylight saving time would leave children, farmers, and other early risers in darkness for extended periods during winter mornings. Among Trump's arguments Saturday was an appeal involving professional golf. He said the PGA Tour needs additional afternoon daylight to complete tournaments, attaching a letter from PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp endorsing the legislation. Trump also cited recreational golfers, tennis players, hunters, and farmers as groups that would benefit from extended daylight hours. A call placed to the phone number shared in Trump's post went to voicemail. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cotton Pushes Back Cotton reiterated his opposition in a post on X following Trump's message, acknowledging that no one enjoys changing clocks, including himself, but noting that Congress has enacted permanent daylight saving time multiple times in the past, only to repeal it after Americans experienced unusually late winter sunrises. He said Arkansans don't want their children walking to school in complete darkness and emphasized that he would continue prioritizing the state's interests. Trump responded sharply in a follow-up Truth Social post Saturday afternoon, accusing Cotton of blocking the bill out of ego. He argued that if Cotton truly prioritized Arkansas, he would support giving residents an extra hour of daylight and spare them the twice-yearly hassle of changing clocks across their homes, farms, and workplaces — a task he noted people often forget to do. Cotton Isn't Alone in His Opposition Cotton isn't the only senator who has expressed reservations about the legislation. Senate Majority Leader John Thune opposed an earlier version of the bill in the Commerce Committee last year. West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito told POLITICO in June that Cotton's concerns are shared by other lawmakers as well. Background on the Legislation The current version of the bill was introduced in the House in January 2025 by Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida, with Sen. Rick Scott, also of Florida, leading the Senate companion bill. The legislation, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, would eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes and make daylight saving time permanent across most of the country. The bill has remained stalled in the Senate since July. Trump encouraged supporters of the measure to contact Cotton directly, framing the call to action around the bill's potential as a bipartisan victory for the country. A Familiar Tactic From Trump This isn't the first time Trump has shared a political rival's personal phone number publicly. During the 2016 Republican presidential primary, he disclosed the personal cellphone number of then-rival Sen. Lindsey Graham after Graham criticized him. Trump later came to rely on Graham as a close Senate ally during his presidency, and revisited the episode during Graham's funeral in July, acknowledging that sharing the number at the time was something he shouldn't have done.