Ivanka Trump sees musical about welcoming strangers with Justin Trudeau while her father defends his travel ban

Canadian Prime Minister praised friendship with US during introduction to the musical on Broadway

While her father was at a rally in Nashville defending his travel ban, Ivanka Trump met with Justin Trudeau in Broadway to see a play celebrating Canada’s openness to foreigners following the September 11 attacks.

Ms Trump was a guest of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who introduced the play in New York, together with 120 ambassadors from around the world.

The musical Come From Away is set in the small Newfoundland town of Gander, where residents opened their homes to some 7,000 airline passengers diverted there when the US government shut down its airspace following the attack.

Within a few hours, the town was overwhelmed by 38 planeloads of travellers from dozens of countries and religions but locals welcomed them and offered them food and a place to stay.

The first daughter went to see the play while Donald Trump held a rally in Nashville during which he attacked a US court in Hawai for halting what he called a "watered-down version" of his travel ban.

The president told his supporters he would fight the decision in the Supreme Court if necessary.

"We're going to win. We're going to keep our citizens safe. The danger is clear. The law is clear. The need for my executive order is clear,” he said.

Ms Trump’s husband Jared Kushner accompanied the US President to Nashville.

But on the Broadway stage, Mr Trudeau told the audience he was pleased that "the world gets to see what it is to lean on each other and be there for each other through the darkest times”.

Mr Trudeau, who has welcomed 40,000 Syrian refugees, hopes to reaffirm the special friendship between Canada and the US.

“I want to also highlight the example to the world that the close relationship between Canada and the US can showcase.

“There is no relationship quite like the friendship between Canada and the US, the deep ties of economics, of business, of friends, of culture, of people travelling back and forth, of families, of all these connections and this story is very much about that.”

The show told a true story of generosity, compassion and acceptance as the US is in the heat of a debate over immigration and open borders.

After a first defeat over the travel ban, the US President revised the order and dropped Iraq from the list of banned countries. The new ban would not apply to travellers who already have visas.

The show got a standing ovation, including from Ms Trump, who was sat near Mr Trudeau.

UN ambassador Nikki Haley and Mr Trudeau’s wife Sophie Gregoire were also in the audience.

"When do we have the opportunity to share a story about kindness, gratitude and love that takes place in a country that is known for opening their hearts to people. It just meant the world to all of us,” said actor Rodney Hicks.