US President Donald Trump has publicly shared what he described as Senator Tom Cotton’s cellphone number, urging Arkansas residents to contact the Republican senator over his opposition to legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States.
Trump made the disclosure on Truth Social on October 3, 2026, as he stepped up pressure on Cotton over the Sunshine Protection Act. Multiple news organisations attempted to contact the number, but its authenticity was not independently confirmed.
Key Highlights
- Trump shared what he said was Tom Cotton’s cellphone number on Truth Social.
- The move came during a dispute over the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent.
- Trump urged Arkansas residents to contact Cotton and support the legislation.
- The US House passed the bill 308-117 in July, but the Senate has yet to advance it.
- Cotton opposes permanent daylight saving time, citing concerns about dark winter mornings.
- Calls to the number reportedly reached a full voicemail box or an unavailable message, and its authenticity was not independently confirmed.
Trump Shares Tom Cotton Phone Number Over Daylight Saving Time Bill
Trump escalated his campaign for permanent daylight saving time by directing Arkansas residents to contact Cotton, whom he described as a friend who was holding up the legislation.
In his Truth Social post, Trump argued that Americans would benefit from more daylight in the afternoon and criticised the existing system of changing clocks twice a year.
Trump also cited support from groups and activities including the PGA Tour, golfers, tennis players, hunters and farmers, arguing that additional afternoon daylight would be beneficial.
Sunshine Protection Act Passed House 308-117
The Sunshine Protection Act passed the US House of Representatives in July by a bipartisan 308-117 vote.
The legislation seeks to establish daylight saving time as the year-round standard in most parts of the United States, ending the twice-yearly clock changes.
The bill has subsequently faced resistance in the Senate, where opposition from some Republicans has complicated efforts to advance it.
Tom Cotton Opposes Permanent Daylight Saving Time
Cotton has argued that permanent daylight saving time could create problems during winter, particularly because sunrise would occur later in the morning.
The Arkansas senator has maintained that children travelling to school and workers commuting early could face darker mornings under a permanent daylight-saving system.
Cotton reiterated his position on October 3, saying that Congress had previously adopted permanent daylight saving time only for the policy to be repealed after public opposition.
His argument centres on putting Arkansas residents’ morning routines and safety ahead of the potential benefits of longer evening daylight.
Calls To Number Were Made, But Authenticity Unclear
Following Trump’s post, several news organisations attempted to call the number he identified as Cotton’s.
Reports said some calls went directly to voicemail, while others encountered an automated message indicating that the recipient was temporarily unavailable. CNN reported that the voicemail box was full.
However, the number had not been independently confirmed as Cotton’s personal number.
The senator’s publicly listed congressional contact information also differs from the number Trump posted, adding to the uncertainty surrounding its authenticity.
Trump And Cotton Clash Over ‘Lock The Clock’
Trump has repeatedly argued that Americans should “lock the clock” and eliminate the twice-yearly adjustment.
He says changing clocks creates unnecessary inconvenience and costs, while permanent daylight saving time would provide more usable daylight in the afternoon.
Cotton, however, has taken the opposite position, warning that the policy could produce excessively late winter sunrises.
The disagreement represents a rare public policy clash between two Republicans who have generally been aligned on many major political issues.
Trump Says Cotton Is Blocking The Bill
Trump accused Cotton of holding up the legislation and urged him to support a Senate vote.
In a second Truth Social post, Trump argued that putting Arkansas first would mean giving residents more afternoon daylight while eliminating the need to change clocks twice a year.
Trump’s comments came as the Senate’s consideration of the legislation remained unresolved.
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Trump Previously Used Similar Tactic Against Lindsey Graham
The incident also recalls Trump’s earlier decision during the 2016 presidential campaign to publicly disclose the cellphone number of then-Senator Lindsey Graham during a political dispute.
Trump and Graham later became political allies.
The latest episode similarly involves Trump using a personal-information disclosure as part of a public campaign to pressure a fellow Republican over a policy disagreement.
Why Permanent Daylight Saving Time Remains Controversial
The debate is not simply about eliminating the inconvenience of changing clocks.
Supporters of permanent daylight saving time argue that longer evening daylight could benefit recreation, sports, businesses and outdoor activities.
Opponents have raised concerns about darker winter mornings, particularly for schoolchildren and early-morning workers.
The United States has previously experimented with year-round daylight saving time, but the policy was eventually abandoned following public opposition.
Sunshine Protection Act Faces Senate Hurdles
Despite the House’s 308-117 approval, the legislation still faces significant obstacles in the Senate.
Trump’s latest intervention has brought renewed attention to the measure, but Cotton and other opponents continue to question whether permanent daylight saving time is the right solution.
As of October 3, the Senate had not approved the legislation, meaning the existing system of changing clocks remained in place.
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