Trump Vows to Eliminate Daylight Saving Time: Winners and Losers of the Shift

Like many Americans, Donald Trump has expressed his dislike for the practice of switching clocks forward in March and back in November for daylight saving time. Last Friday, the former president pledged to put an end to this longstanding practice.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation.”

Initially introduced during both World Wars as a measure to save energy, daylight saving time has become a subject of contention in recent years. While it promises an extra hour of evening sunlight, studies have raised questions about whether the benefits outweigh the disruptions. Changing the clocks is a source of frustration for many, and earlier this month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who are part of Trump’s semi-official Department of Government Efficiency, also criticized the practice.

It remains unclear whether Trump supports making daylight saving time permanent—leading to longer afternoons—or reverting to standard time year-round, which would ensure brighter mornings. Trump’s team declined to comment on the matter. In 2022, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, whom Trump has nominated to lead the State Department, co-sponsored the Sunshine Protection Act. This bipartisan bill, now stalled, proposed making daylight saving time permanent. On the other hand, most health experts advocate for staying on standard time due to its alignment with natural body rhythms.

Ending clock changes would have far-reaching implications, with economic consequences for several sectors. If the proposal to remain on permanent daylight saving time gains traction, there will be distinct winners and losers.

Winners

Tourism

One of the biggest beneficiaries of permanent daylight saving time would be the tourism industry. Longer afternoon and evening daylight hours encourage more visitors to outdoor attractions and landmarks. Kurt Janson, policy director of the U.K.’s Tourism Alliance, estimated in 2011 that Britain’s tourism sector could gain an additional £3.5 billion (around $5.6 billion at the time) annually if daylight saving time were made permanent. “In a nutshell, it would extend the spring and fall shoulder seasons for the tourism industry,” Janson told National Geographic.

Retail

Retailers would also stand to gain from permanent daylight saving time. Extended daylight hours encourage shoppers to spend more, particularly during the evening. Two years ago, an industry representative told a House committee that daylight saving time contributed to increased consumer spending. Similarly, a 2016 JPMorgan Chase Institute study revealed that consumer spending dropped by 2.2% to 4.9% in various cities following the return to standard time.

The Stock Market

Interestingly, the stock market also seems to fare better during daylight saving time. Between 2007 and 2022, the S&P 500 recorded an average gain of 7.5% during daylight saving months, compared to just 2% during the rest of the year, according to Bespoke Investment Group. While correlation does not imply causation, it appears that Wall Street traders—like many Americans—dislike losing an hour of sleep in March. A study conducted by researchers from several business schools, including Kentucky and Emory, found that participants in capital markets were slower to react to earnings news during the week after clocks “spring forward.”

Losers

Your Health

Health experts overwhelmingly favor standard time over daylight saving time, citing its better alignment with the body’s circadian rhythm. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine both argue that standard time is healthier. Research published in the British Medical Journal highlights a range of health risks linked to daylight saving time, including increased rates of heart attacks, strokes, and other medical conditions.

A recent analysis by Chmura Economics & Analytics estimated the annual economic cost of daylight saving time at $672 million. This figure includes $375 million attributed to higher rates of heart attacks, $252 million linked to strokes, $18 million from workplace injuries, and $27 million due to a rise in traffic accidents.

Morning Commuters

Making daylight saving time permanent has historical precedent—and mixed results. In December 1973, President Nixon signed a law to implement permanent daylight saving time during the oil crisis. However, the change quickly became unpopular during the dark winter months. Americans disliked commuting and sending children to school before sunrise, and the problem gained national attention when incidents of schoolchildren being hit by vehicles were reported. In Florida alone, eight children died, prompting then-Governor Reubin Askew to urge Congress to reverse the measure.

By October 1974, President Gerald Ford signed legislation to reinstate standard time for four months each year. If daylight saving time were made permanent again, similar objections could arise from parents, commuters, and others, particularly in regions located on the western edges of time zones where sunrise would be significantly delayed.

As Trump continues to advocate for eliminating daylight saving time, the debate highlights the complexities and trade-offs involved in changing how the nation observes time. Whether his pledge materializes into a legislative proposal or remains a talking point, the potential winners and losers are clear.