Ivanka Trump Is Booed, Hissed in Germany for Defending Donald Trump
German audience also appeared confused by prominent role president's daughter is playing in the administration
Ivanka Trump received a chilly reception in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday after she claimed President Donald Trump was an advocate for women and families during a roundtable discussion on women's rights, held as part of the G20 summit.
Ivanka Trump described Donald Trump as "a tremendous champion of supporting families and enabling them to thrive."
The crowd of mostly women hissed and booed in response to Ivanka Trump's defense of her father.
"You hear the reaction from the audience," the moderator of the discussion, WirtschaftsWoche editor-in-chief Miriam Meckel, said. "I need to address one more point--some attitudes toward women your father has displayed might leave one questioning whether he's such an empower-er for women."
"I've certainly heard the criticism from the media, that's been perpetuated," Ivanka Trump responded, and the crowd laughed.
Watch the exchange here:
Earlier in the evening, the German crowd appeared mostly curious about Ivanka Trump's White House role. Indeed, German media covered the nebulousness of her role as advisor to the president--and the conflicts of interest therein--extensively ahead of Ivanka Trump's visit to Germany.
"Why is Ivanka here instead of Melania?" one headline read.
The moderator asked: "You're the first daughter of the United States, and you're also an assistant to the president. The German audience is not that familiar with the concept of a first daughter. I'd like to ask you, what is your role, and who are you representing, your father as president of the United States, the American people, or your business?"
The crowd laughed.
"Certainly not the latter. I'm rather unfamiliar with this role as well," Ivanka Trump answered. "It has been a little under 100 days and it has just been a remarkable and incredible journey."
The "first daughter" didn't clarify the role any further.
Germans criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel for inviting Ivanka Trump to the roundtable discussion, which also included Christine Lagarde of the International Monetary Fund, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
In one bluntly-worded op-ed for n-tv, editor Sabine Oelmann condemned the prominent role Ivanka Trump plays in Donald Trump's White House:
It's bad enough that Donald Trump's son-in-law, Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner is one of the closest colleagues and advisors of the American president. But now there's also Ivanka: She has an office near daddy's Oval Office, she has an official position that was never advertised or available before, she has a security clearance, she costs an unbelievable amount of money--and once again, how exactly is she qualified to work in the White House? Because she wrote a self-help book? Because she founded a company? No, it's more likely because she's daddy's girl--and that is almost worse than being born into a royal family. That is pure nepotism.
Germans also poked fun at Ivanka Trump's visit on Twitter. "Oh, Ivanka's in Berlin," wrote one Berlin resident. "So that's why I've been feeling like a dementor is nearby."
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Ivanka Trump received a chilly reception in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday after she claimed President Donald Trump was an advocate for women and families during a roundtable discussion on women's rights, held as part of the G20 summit.
Ivanka Trump described Donald Trump as "a tremendous champion of supporting families and enabling them to thrive."
The crowd of mostly women hissed and booed in response to Ivanka Trump's defense of her father.
"You hear the reaction from the audience," the moderator of the discussion, WirtschaftsWoche editor-in-chief Miriam Meckel, said. "I need to address one more point--some attitudes toward women your father has displayed might leave one questioning whether he's such an empower-er for women."
"I've certainly heard the criticism from the media, that's been perpetuated," Ivanka Trump responded, and the crowd laughed.
Watch the exchange here:
Earlier in the evening, the German crowd appeared mostly curious about Ivanka Trump's White House role. Indeed, German media covered the nebulousness of her role as advisor to the president--and the conflicts of interest therein--extensively ahead of Ivanka Trump's visit to Germany.
"Why is Ivanka here instead of Melania?" one headline read.
The moderator asked: "You're the first daughter of the United States, and you're also an assistant to the president. The German audience is not that familiar with the concept of a first daughter. I'd like to ask you, what is your role, and who are you representing, your father as president of the United States, the American people, or your business?"
The crowd laughed.
"Certainly not the latter. I'm rather unfamiliar with this role as well," Ivanka Trump answered. "It has been a little under 100 days and it has just been a remarkable and incredible journey."
The "first daughter" didn't clarify the role any further.
Germans criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel for inviting Ivanka Trump to the roundtable discussion, which also included Christine Lagarde of the International Monetary Fund, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
In one bluntly-worded op-ed for n-tv, editor Sabine Oelmann condemned the prominent role Ivanka Trump plays in Donald Trump's White House:
It's bad enough that Donald Trump's son-in-law, Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner is one of the closest colleagues and advisors of the American president. But now there's also Ivanka: She has an office near daddy's Oval Office, she has an official position that was never advertised or available before, she has a security clearance, she costs an unbelievable amount of money--and once again, how exactly is she qualified to work in the White House? Because she wrote a self-help book? Because she founded a company? No, it's more likely because she's daddy's girl--and that is almost worse than being born into a royal family. That is pure nepotism.
Germans also poked fun at Ivanka Trump's visit on Twitter. "Oh, Ivanka's in Berlin," wrote one Berlin resident. "So that's why I've been feeling like a dementor is nearby."
Ivanka Trump received a chilly reception in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday after she claimed President Donald Trump was an advocate for women and families during a roundtable discussion on women's rights, held as part of the G20 summit.
Ivanka Trump described Donald Trump as "a tremendous champion of supporting families and enabling them to thrive."
The crowd of mostly women hissed and booed in response to Ivanka Trump's defense of her father.
"You hear the reaction from the audience," the moderator of the discussion, WirtschaftsWoche editor-in-chief Miriam Meckel, said. "I need to address one more point--some attitudes toward women your father has displayed might leave one questioning whether he's such an empower-er for women."
"I've certainly heard the criticism from the media, that's been perpetuated," Ivanka Trump responded, and the crowd laughed.
Watch the exchange here:
Earlier in the evening, the German crowd appeared mostly curious about Ivanka Trump's White House role. Indeed, German media covered the nebulousness of her role as advisor to the president--and the conflicts of interest therein--extensively ahead of Ivanka Trump's visit to Germany.
"Why is Ivanka here instead of Melania?" one headline read.
The moderator asked: "You're the first daughter of the United States, and you're also an assistant to the president. The German audience is not that familiar with the concept of a first daughter. I'd like to ask you, what is your role, and who are you representing, your father as president of the United States, the American people, or your business?"
The crowd laughed.
"Certainly not the latter. I'm rather unfamiliar with this role as well," Ivanka Trump answered. "It has been a little under 100 days and it has just been a remarkable and incredible journey."
The "first daughter" didn't clarify the role any further.
Germans criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel for inviting Ivanka Trump to the roundtable discussion, which also included Christine Lagarde of the International Monetary Fund, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
In one bluntly-worded op-ed for n-tv, editor Sabine Oelmann condemned the prominent role Ivanka Trump plays in Donald Trump's White House:
It's bad enough that Donald Trump's son-in-law, Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner is one of the closest colleagues and advisors of the American president. But now there's also Ivanka: She has an office near daddy's Oval Office, she has an official position that was never advertised or available before, she has a security clearance, she costs an unbelievable amount of money--and once again, how exactly is she qualified to work in the White House? Because she wrote a self-help book? Because she founded a company? No, it's more likely because she's daddy's girl--and that is almost worse than being born into a royal family. That is pure nepotism.
Germans also poked fun at Ivanka Trump's visit on Twitter. "Oh, Ivanka's in Berlin," wrote one Berlin resident. "So that's why I've been feeling like a dementor is nearby."