Trump hails US summer travel bump after second term doldrums

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump claimed credit for a spike in summer travel during a meeting with airline, hotel and cruise industry executives, as he seeks to regain political momentum at a pivotal moment. “It’s a total record we’ve had. The country is thriving,” Trump said on Sept 2 during the gathering of representatives from companies such as American Airlines Inc and Marriott International Inc. He cited major events such as the FIFA World Cup, which drew fans from around the globe to the US, Mexico and Canada, and celebrations of the nation’s 250th birthday.The meeting comes as Trump grapples with pushback to his policy agenda, which has put his fellow Republicans at risk of losing control of Congress in the November midterm elections.A Pew Research Center survey of people in 3