Gander, Canada, opened its doors after 9/11. Trump’s ambassador risks a cooler welcome.

OTTAWA — U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra is visiting Gander on Friday to thank the small Newfoundland town that opened its homes to thousands of stranded Americans after 9/11 — even as the trip draws criticism from Canadians angry about President Donald Trump's treatment of their country.

"The terrorist attacks of September 11 left a lasting mark on me and our nation, but during a very dark time, the people of Newfoundland showed us what true community really means," Hoekstra said to POLITICO in a statement.

"On this 25th anniversary, I am returning to say a heartfelt thank you not just on behalf of those who were stranded, but for an entire nation that remains moved by Gander's generosity."

Not everyone in Gander is feeling generous this year.

The diplomat has embraced Trump's confrontational approach toward Canada, shrugging off the president's comments about making Canada the 51st state, picking fights with Canadian leaders and amplifying taunts and provocations — most recently over the renaming of Lake Ontario.

More than 268,000 Canadians have signed a nonbinding petition calling on the ambassador to be kicked out of the country.

The U.S. Embassy is not engaging with the campaign — nor is Hoekstra staying away.

On Friday, he'll spend the day with locals in Gander, he said, "meeting many of those who opened their hearts and homes and honoring the enduring bond built that week."

The municipality of Gander acknowledged in a statement the frustration and disappointment many Canadians are feeling about the state of relations. The town council assured residents Hoekstra's invite was "not an endorsement of any individual, their comments or their political views."

"September 11 is bigger than politics, personalities or titles," the town said. "Gander's story from September 11 has never been about politics. It has been about people."

In what was known as Operation Yellow Ribbon, thousands of passengers were diverted to Canadian airports on Sept. 11, 2001, after the attacks brought North American air travel to a standstill. Gander International Airport took in 38 aircraft carrying nearly 7,000 passengers.

Gander, with a population of nearly 10,000, didn't have enough hotel space for them, so residents opened their homes. Schools, churches and town halls were turned into dormitories. Locals cooked meals and offered places to sleep and shower. Pharmacies filled prescriptions without cost, and locals entertained visitors with concerts and bowling matches. Flights eventually left Gander on Sept. 13, but the bonds endured.

The town's message reflected a broader effort over the years to preserve the Gander story as a symbol of the relationship between ordinary Canadians and Americans.

In 2017, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invited Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, to see the Tony Award-winning musical "Come From Away," about the town's response to 9/11. The outing was intended to show that the Canada-U.S. relationship was stronger than any political differences.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen, who was appointed by Joe Biden, said criticism of Hoekstra's attendance is unfair and misplaced.

"Pete Hoekstra is the personal representative of Donald Trump," Cohen said. "You shouldn't be angry at Ambassador Hoekstra. You should be angry at Donald Trump."

Cohen noted that Hoekstra is traveling to Gander to pay his respects, knowing many people will not necessarily be happy to see him. "He's bound and determined to extend his thanks … to the people of Gander for the generosity and humanity that they extended to the United States at a time when we needed it more than we have ever needed it before."

The town council said Gander's lesson from 9/11 was not that Canadians and Americans would always agree. It was that in crisis, they could be there for one another and recognize each others' humanity.

"There are times when we will disagree," the council said. "There are also times when we have to recognize that something is bigger than those differences."