President Trump on Monday defended his daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump, for sitting in for him at a meeting at last week’s G-20 summit, in response to critics who said that move wasn’t appropriate.
“When I left Conference Room for short meetings with Japan and other countries, I asked Ivanka to hold seat. Very standard. Angela M agrees!” Trump wrote on Twitter Monday morning.
When I left Conference Room for short meetings with Japan and other countries, I asked Ivanka to hold seat. Very standard. Angela M agrees!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 10, 2017
Trump administration officials said delegations from all countries routinely let others take the seat of their leader for brief moments, and Trump argued that the press would have had a much different reaction if Chelsea Clinton had been allowed to sit in for a hypothetical President Hillary Clinton.
“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!” Trump added.
Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton rebuked Trump on Monday for comparing her to his daughter, Ivanka, and saying her mother, Hillary, would have given the U.S. away.
“Good morning Mr. President. It would never have occurred to my mother or my father to ask me. Were you giving our country away? Hoping not,” Clinton responded on Twitter Monday morning.
Good morning Mr. President. It would never have occurred to my mother or my father to ask me. Were you giving our country away? Hoping not. https://t.co/4ODjWZUp0c
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) July 10, 2017
Chelsea Clinton was too young during Bill Clinton’s administration to serve in the White House.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 10, 2017
Ivanka Trump took her father’s place on at least two occasions during a general meeting.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also sided with the Trumps.
“Ivanka Trump belonged to the American delegation, so that is in line with what other delegations do. And it is known that she works at the White House and carries responsibility for certain initiatives,” Merkel told reporters on Saturday.
