In brief
He proposes ending the seasonal clock changes, citing potential health and economic benefits.
In a recent post on his platform Truth Social, Donald Trump expressed his desire to end the practice of daylight saving time (DST), calling it "very costly" and "inconvenient" for American citizens. The former president pointed out that while DST has its supporters, it's time to reconsider its relevance. Traditionally, DST involves setting clocks forward one hour in spring and back in autumn to utilize natural daylight more effectively, which is practiced in approximately one-third of the world's nations, including Europe.However, there's an ongoing debate in the U.S. about the future of DST. Advocates for permanent standard time argue that it supports better sleep patterns and overall health, as well as prevents disorientation in sleep schedules. On the flip side, proponents of permanent DST assert that it provides brighter evenings which can benefit evening commuters, potentially reducing crime and lowering traffic accidents.Trump's announcement comes as a continuation of attempts to revise this biannual time change. For instance, a 2022 bill called the Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by Senator Marco Rubio, aimed to make DST permanent but ultimately did not progress to Biden's desk. Notably, both Hawaii and most of Arizona have opted out of these seasonal changes.Research indicates that continuing with DST poses health risks, including increased fatigue and mental stress, as per Professor Joan Costa-i-Font of the London School of Economics. His studies suggest that eliminating DST could boost economic output by €754 ($792; £627) per person annually. Around 66% of Americans, according to a Monmouth University poll, support making DST a permanent practice. Meanwhile, countries like Mexico and Jordan have recently ceased observing DST, while others like Turkey and Russia have adopted a year-round daylight saving model. The discussion continues about the benefits and drawbacks of these time changes in our modern society.
