During an interview with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau aired on Wednesday’s NBC Today, special correspondent Tom Brokaw complained about President Trump’s latest executive order temporarily suspending immigration from a handful of Middle Eastern nations: “He's made another effort to shut down or at least diminish the opportunity for immigrants to come here. Another judge has stepped in.”
He then urged the foreign leader to lecture the President: “You say everyone is welcome here. What's going to be the impact of that, long-term? Not just politically, but economically and culturally?” Trudeau replied: “We'll agree to disagree on certain things, but I know, and I’ve always felt for Canada, that we recognize diversity as a great source of strength. And that's something that we're open to in the world.”
Brokaw followed up: “So if I'm an immigrant in the Middle East and know that I can't get into the United States, do I just turn my dial and say, ‘I'm going to go to Ottawa’?”
Trudeau explained that Canada has its own vetting process:
Last year, we took in 40,000 refugees as well. But we have a rigorous process that does take years. And it's something that is important, that we get right because Canadians understand how important it is to bring in people who can be integrated and succeed. And that comes from the full diversity of the planet.
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A clip of the exchange came in the middle of a report from correspondent Stephanie Gosk on Ivanka Trump attending the opening of a new Canadian-produced Broadway play, Come From Away, at the invitation of Trudeau. Gosk declared:
Despite sharp differences on immigration, refugees, and trade, Trump and Trudeau struck a cordial tone during a White House visit last month....Now, a new photo op, with some speculating whether Ivanka is the President’s secret diplomatic weapon, able to blend Broadway with bureaucracy.
Here is a full transcript of the March 16 segment:
7:31 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: A lot of eyes on Broadway last night, when Ivanka Trump was invited to a show just unveiled by the Canadian prime minister, right there, Justin Trudeau. And NBC’s Stephanie Gosk has that story. Stephanie, good morning.
STEPHANIE GOSK: Hey, good morning, Savannah. Well, Trudeau and Trump took in Come From Away with dozens of ambassadors from around the world also in the audience. But all eyes were on the first daughter, Ivanka Trump. While Trudeau took the opportunity to bridge the gap between their two countries.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: First Daughter Diplomacy; Ivanka Trump Hits Broadway With Canadian PM Justin Trudeau]
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, taking the stage to welcome theatergoers to a new Broadway musical.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU: To celebrate this story of friendship during extraordinarily difficult times.
GOSK: Come From Away tells the inspiring story of a small Canadian town that helped nearly 7,000 travelers whose plans were diverted after the 9/11 attacks.
[CAST SINGING]
GOSK: In the audience, Ivanka Trump, doing a bit of daughter diplomacy, sitting with Trudeau, his wife, and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Despite sharp differences on immigration, refugees, and trade, Trump and Trudeau struck a cordial tone during a White House visit last month. Trudeau spoke to NBC’s Tom Brokaw just as a federal judge blocked the President’s revised executive order on immigration.
TOM BROKAW: He's made another effort to shut down or at least diminish the opportunity for immigrants to come here. Another judge has stepped in. You say everyone is welcome here. What's going to be the impact of that, long-term? Not just politically, but economically and culturally?
TRUDEAU: We'll agree to disagree on certain things, but I know, and I’ve always felt for Canada, that we recognize diversity as a great source of strength. And that's something that we're open to in the world.
BROKAW: So if I'm an immigrant in the Middle East and know that I can't get into the United States, do I just turn my dial and say, “I'm going to go to Ottawa”?
TRUDEAU: Last year, we took in 40,000 refugees as well. But we have a rigorous process that does take years. And it's something that is important, that we get right because Canadians understand how important it is to bring in people who can be integrated and succeed. And that comes from the full diversity of the planet.
GOSK: During that White House visit last month, the Prime Minister joined the President and Ivanka at a meeting with a dozen female business leaders to discuss support for women in the workplace. The pictures quickly going viral, becoming an internet sensation. Now, a new photo op, with some speculating whether Ivanka is the President’s secret diplomatic weapon, able to blend Broadway with bureaucracy. Matching her father's famous art of the deal with the arts.
The actors didn't make any changes to the script or acknowledge the special audience. The show got a standing ovation, including from Ivanka Trump.
GUTHRIE: Alright, Stephanie, thank you. By the way, we’re going to have a lot more on this show, Tom Brokaw taking a closer look at the story behind this musical and more of his exclusive conversation with the Canadian prime minister.
