Trump Discloses Senator Tom Cotton's Phone Number Over Daylight Saving Bill

President Donald Trump shared a phone number identified as Senator Tom Cotton's personal cellphone on Saturday, urging Arkansas voters to pressure the senator to support permanent daylight saving time.

President Trump posted the contact information on Truth Social after accusing the Arkansas Republican of blocking the Sunshine Protection Act. According to Fox News and The Guardian, the number featured an Arkansas area code, but attempts by multiple news outlets to reach the senator were unsuccessful. The Associated Press reported the voicemail box was full, while The Guardian received a carrier message stating the customer was unavailable.

The president's posts claimed that permanent daylight saving time would benefit sports, reduce crime, and prevent the inconvenience of changing clocks twice a year. Trump specifically noted that the change would give professional golfers more time on the greens. He characterized Cotton as a friend but stated, "For some reason, Tom is stopping the Bill," according to NBC News and Fox News reports.

Senator Cotton responded on social media by reiterating his opposition to the legislation, according to The Guardian and NBC News. He argued that permanent daylight saving time would result in "absurdly late sunrises" and force children to wait for school buses in the pitch dark. Cotton noted that Congress had attempted this change in the 1970s but repealed it after public dissatisfaction with dark winter mornings.

The Sunshine Protection Act passed the House in July with a 308–117 bipartisan vote, but it has stalled in the Senate. CBS News noted that while the White House and proponents argue the bill provides more daylight during active hours, a geographic coalition of northern and southern states remains divided. Both The Guardian and CBS News identified Cotton as the chair of the Senate intelligence committee.

Background

The Sunshine Protection Act would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, though it allows states to opt out if their legislatures act before enactment. In a similar 2016 incident reported by CBS News, Trump released the personal cellphone number of Senator Lindsey Graham after Graham criticized him during the presidential primary.