Trump Dismisses 12% Decline in US Tourism

International tourism to the United States has sharply declined under Donald Trump's administration, with data indicating drops of nearly 10-12 percent compared to previous years. Economic analysts, including JPMorgan, attribute the downturn primarily to Trump's trade tariffs and a hostile political climate, with additional concerns arising from high-profile detentions of foreign visitors. Despite these issues, Trump has publicly dismissed the decline as 'no big deal,' attributing it to factors like nationalism and expressing indifference toward the potential economic consequences, which could amount to billions in lost GDP. Industry sources and surveys show that would-be tourists are deterred by both restrictive policies and negative rhetoric from U.S. officials, and several traditional allies have even issued travel advisories. The administration has shown little interest in reversing these trends, instead emphasizing that visiting America is a 'privilege' rather than a right. This stance has frustrated the domestic travel industry, which fears lasting economic damage if the situation does not improve.