‘Merkel agreed with me' Donald Trump reveals why Ivanka took his seat at G20 summit
DONALD Trump came under fire for allowing his daughter to take his place during the G20 summit - but today he sensationally claimed Angela Merkel agreed to the switch.
Angela Merkel meets Ivanka Trump at G20 summit
Ivanka Trump spent part of her weekend sitting around a table in talks with China, Russia and Turkey - along with the British prime minister and the German Chancellor.
The former businesswoman and model took her father’s seat during the two day G20 summit in Hamburg - promoting a fierce backlash from critics.
But today her father revealed the switch was “very standard” - and even claimed Ms Merkel agreed to it.
Ivanka Trump and Angela Merkel met at the G20 summit
The former businesswoman and model took her father’s seat during G20
He tweeted: “When I left Conference Room for short meetings with Japan and other countries, I asked Ivanka to hold seat. Very standard. Angela M agrees!”
The president then followed it up with: "If Chelsea Clinton were asked to hold the seat for her mother,as her mother gave our country away, the Fake News would say CHELSEA FOR PRES!"
The US president caused outrage after he skipped a key G20 summit meeting on African migration and letting his daughter take his place.
It is not believed his second child spoke during her brief stint at the world leaders’ table, although she later made a few comments after appearing at the Women Entrepreneaurs Finance Initiative, and her father returned shortly afterwards.
Trump later replaced Ivanka after her brief stint in the spotlight
When I left Conference Room for short meetings with Japan and other countries, I asked Ivanka to hold seat. Very standard. Angela M agrees!
But the move still prompted outrage online.
"Ivanka Trump, unelected, unqualified, daughter-in-chief, is representing the US at the G20 summit next to May, Xi, Merkel," tweeted Brian Klass.
Comedian Dom Joly said: "Ivanka Trump sitting in at G20 instead of her father is breathtakingly insane. She designs shoes..."
The BBC's Ros Atkins confirmed Ivanka had stepped in for the President as he went to hold bilateral talks with the President of Indonesia.
“..it seems to me it's [G20's] great value for Trump is in multiple high level bi-laterals, not group action." he tweeted.
Her appointment in March as an official unpaid advisor to her father's White House adminstration spraked fury and accusations of nepotism.
Her husband, Jared Kushner, was also appinted a senior White House advisor by President Trump.
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