Trump hails US summer travel bump after second term doldrums

Donald Trump claimed credit for a record summer travel season as he met airline, hotel and cruise executives at the White House, seeking to restore political momentum while facing resistance to his policy agenda.

“It’s a total record we’ve had. The country is thriving,” Trump said on Sept. 2. He pointed to the FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, and celebrations marking the United States’ 250th birthday. The White House said the meeting would celebrate the achievements behind what it called a historic summer travel season.

The upbeat message came alongside signs of weakness in international tourism. International arrivals to the United States fell 5.5% in 2025 from the previous year, according to the US International Trade Administration. Arrivals through May were down 1% from the same period a year earlier. Travel industry figures have cited longer visa waits, stricter immigration policies, tariffs and travel restrictions as factors that could discourage foreign visitors.

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It’s a total record we’ve had. The country is thriving.

Some industry representatives had feared that the administration’s immigration crackdown and visa rules would reduce attendance at the World Cup. The tournament nevertheless became the largest World Cup by attendance. A White House official said travel spending reached $122.1 billion in June, up 6.2% from a year earlier, with small businesses across the country sharing in the gains.

Trump also used the meeting to repeat complaints about trading partners. He said Canada had “taken advantage of us” and said the United States had attracted companies from allies including Germany, South Korea and Japan. Executives from major travel, hotel, casino and cruise companies were expected to attend, along with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, US Travel Association President Geoff Freeman and other officials involved in the World Cup.

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taken advantage of us