Trump defends Ivanka sitting in at G-20 meeting: ‘Very standard’

President Trump on Monday defended his decision to have his daughter briefly sit in for him during a Group of 20 summit meeting in Germany.

“When I left Conference Room for short meetings with Japan and other countries, I asked Ivanka to hold seat,” Trump tweeted.

“Very standard. Angela M agrees,” he wrote, referring to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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

{mosads}Ivanka Trump briefly sat in for her father during a G-20 summit meeting, a move that sparked criticism from some, including aides to former President Obama.

Merkel defended the move, saying during a news conference that it was up to the individual nations to decide who represented them.

“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.”

Cabinet officials typically replace the president at high-level sessions when a stand-in is needed. Ivanka Trump serves as an unpaid adviser to her father in the White House.

President Trump added in a later tweet that the “Fake News” media would push Chelsea Clinton for president if she were asked to hold a seat for her mother.

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

— This report was updated at 7:52 a.m.