Ivanka sits in for Trump

HAMBURG: For a moment on Saturday the US was represented by another Trump on the world stage, when the president’s daughter Ivanka took a seat among a table of G20 leaders in Germany.

The 35-year-old former fashion model sat down next to Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Hamburg, diplomats and the White House confirmed.

The incident fuelled allegations of nepotism against the US leader, who has put family members in top White House positions.

A White House official said that 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”.

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

But Trump’s already vociferous detractors were enraged.

Historian Anne Applebaum took to Twitter to denounce what she described “an unelected, unqualified, unprepared New York socialite” being seen as “the best person to represent American national interests”.

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.

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

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 Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull. – AFP