Internet reacts to Ivanka sitting in for Trump at G20 meeting

Ivanka Trump briefly stepped in to take her father’s seat during a Group of 20 summit meeting on Saturday.

A photo posted to Twitter showed Ivanka sitting next to world leaders, including British Prime Minister Theresa May and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Cabinet officials usually replace the president during sessions when a stand-in is needed. But the first daughter, an official adviser to the president, took his place instead.

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“Ivanka was sitting in the back and then briefly joined the main table when the president had to step out,” a White House official said in response to the photo.

The White House said the topic under discussion related to Ivanka’s advocacy role on a women’s economic development initiative with the World Bank, according to reports.

The internet quickly responded to the photo of the first daughter filling in for her father during the meeting in Germany: 

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

Because an unelected, unqualified, unprepared New York socialite is the best person to represent American national interests https://t.co/hmRCfwebCc

— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) July 8, 2017

If another G20 leader put their daughter or son in the chair we’d be talking about democratic backsliding.

— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) July 8, 2017

If another G20 leader put their daughter or son in the chair we’d be talking about democratic backsliding.

— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) July 8, 2017

Sort of the whole point of America was that governmental authority was bestowed by the people not by birth https://t.co/2sE1a6Vlcr

— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) July 8, 2017

Ivanka fills in for her dad beside Xi Jinping. To me, it feels banana-republicky for the US to be represented by an inexperienced daughter. https://t.co/lDDlyCeFp9

— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) July 8, 2017

The G20 is not Take Your Daughter to Work day. https://t.co/wOlfQkBfEM

— Elizabeth Spiers (@espiers) July 8, 2017

Ivanka, June 26: “I try to stay out of politics.”

July 8: Seated with global leaders as an equal at the G20 summit. https://t.co/PLMz5fRUD1

— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) July 8, 2017

Having Princess Ivanka represent US at G20 table a slap in face to other G20 leaders, other top admin officials, American people. Grotesque.

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) July 8, 2017

Ivanka, couldn’t you have at least re-admitted us to the Paris Climate Accords during your brief reign? https://t.co/J8SczFoOr2

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 8, 2017

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who served as the host leader for this year’s summit, said later Saturday at a news conference that it was up to individual nations to decide who represents them, Bloomberg reported.

“The delegations themselves decide, should the president not be present for a meeting, who will then take over and sit in the chair,” Merkel said.

“Ivanka Trump was part and parcel of the American delegation so that is something that other delegations also do. It’s very well known that she works at the White House and is also engaged in certain initiatives.”

Updated: 5:24 p.m.