Trump promises to put an end to ‘very expensive’ daylight saving time

US President Donald Trump has said he wants to end Daylight Saving Time (DST), arguing it is “inconvenient” and “very expensive” for Americans.

DST is the practice of moving the clocks forward one hour in the spring and back one hour in the fall to make better use of natural daylight.

It is observed in a third of the world’s countries, according to the Pew Research Center, including most of Europe.

However, some in the US have long advocated ending the practice, arguing it would lead to brighter afternoons and more economic activity.

In a post on his platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump said DST had “a small but powerful constituency but shouldn’t”.

He said his Republican Party would work to end it.

It is not the first attempt to change the practice of changing clocks seasonally in the United States.

In 2022, the Democratic-controlled Senate passed a bill that would have called for the United States to permanently switch to daylight saving time to make use of lighter evenings, especially for those commuting from work or school.

But The Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, never made it to President Joe Biden’s desk.

Rubio, who has since been tapped by Trump for the role of secretary of state under his incoming administration, said at the time that studies had shown permanent daylight saving time could benefit the economy.