Donald Trump defends daughter Ivanka after she sits in for US President at table of world leaders

HILLARY Clinton’s daughter Chelsea has fired back at Donald Trump after he dragged her into a controversy to defend his own daughter, Ivanka.

Ivanka Trump looks on the second day of the G20 economic summit on July 8, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. Picture: Sean Gallup

CHELSEA Clinton has delivered a scathing retort towards US President Donald Trump after he threw her under the bus over an incident with his daughter Ivanka at the G20 summit.

The only child of former U.S. President Bill Clinton and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Chelsea, fresh from suggesting President Trump “might benefit” from reading children’s book s, was thrown back into the spotlight when Mr Trump provided a fiery explanation over why daughter Ivanka took his seat during a meeting of G20 leaders in Germany.

The 35-year-old Ivanka was pictured sitting down next to Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Hamburg during the G20 summit, fuelling allegations of nepotism against the US leader, who has put family members in a number of top White House positions.

Ivanka Trump, unelected, unqualified, daughter-in-chief, is representing the US at the G20 summit next to May, Xi, Merkel. Photo @LanaLukash pic.twitter.com/fvs0EMy8z7

— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) July 8, 2017

At the time a White House official said Ivanka had been at the back of the room, but “briefly joined the main table when the President had to step out”.

The official emphasised that “when other leaders stepped out, their seats were also briefly filled by others.”

Ms Merkel also sought to play down the case, saying that it is “in line with what other delegations do”.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left to right, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, United States President Donald Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the Women and Development event at the G20 summit. Picture: Ryan Remiorz

Overnight, Trump took to his favourite medium, Twitter, and explained the story; that when he left the room to attend meetings, namely Japan, he “asked Ivanka to hold my seat”.

He reiterated the White House’s earlier comments, claiming the move was “very standard”.

“Angela M agrees!” He wrote.

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

All was quiet on the Twitter front until fifteen-minutes later, when he took a pot-shot at Chelsea Clinton and the likely “fake news” reaction, attempting to highlight the irony that Ms Clinton might be praised, despite the criticism against Ivanka.

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

At the #G20 launch of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative @theresa_may @IvankaTrump @TurnbullMalcolm DrG pic.twitter.com/gmo8ymfBSq

— Australia G20 (@G20Australia) July 8, 2017

Cue Chelsea, who half an hour after the President’s tweet, replied with a “good morning” before attempting to communicate the idea that replacing her father “never occured to me”.

Ivanka’s participation came to light when a Russian official, Svetlana Lukash tweeted a picture of Ivanka at the main table of the summit in Hamburg, surrounded by world leaders.

“And replaces Pres. Trump at the G20 table as he leaves for bilateral meetings” she said.

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

“It’s nothing unusual for an adviser to sit upfront,” said one diplomat on condition of anonymity, “we have had it before.”

Yesterday she tweeted a montage from her trip to Poland and the G20, which included snapshots with world leaders including Angela Merkel and Theresa May. It was strikingly similar to her father’s earlier efforts.

ICYMI: Recap from our trip to Poland & the #G20. Thank you to all the world leaders who supported the launch of the @WorldBank #WeFi. pic.twitter.com/AqVj3Iq8z0

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) July 10, 2017

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/NVDVRrWLs4

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017

Earlier in the day Trump had waxed lyrical about his daughter before a bevy of world leaders, gathered to boost a fund designed to encourage female entrepreneurs.

“I’m very proud of my daughter, Ivanka — always have been, from day one — I had to tell you that, from day one,” Trump said before Australia’s Malcolm Turnbull and Canada’s Justin Trudeau.

“She’s always been great,” he said. “A champion. She’s a champion.” Mr Trump then prompted some nervous laughter when he mused about whether he had made her life more difficult.

“If she weren’t my daughter, it would be so much easier for her. Might be the only bad thing she has going, if you want to know the truth.”

Chelsea also has a PhD in international relations. So..... she's sort of more qualified, yo

— Andrea Kuszewski (@AndreaKuszewski) July 10, 2017

This would happen. They'd probably say "Oh she looked so presidential"

— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) July 10, 2017

Ok. We will stop talking about Ivanka. What is going on with Don Jr. these days? Any news on him?

— Dani Bostick (@danibostick) July 10, 2017

— Additional reporting by wires