Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka attended his first meeting with a foreign leader, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — sparking concerns about his family's influence over his political duties.
The 35-year-old Ivanka is seen in photographs of the Thursday meeting released by the Japanese government. The Independent newspaper in Great Britain notes Ivanka, who along with the Trump's other adult children, already plays a key role is overseeing the business empire of the president-elect.
"It's quite unusual to see a family member attending the first encounter between two leaders even if it's informal," the newspaper quotes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a professor of International Relations at the University of Niigata Prefecture.
According to the newspaper it was unclear whether Ivanka took part in the discussions with Abe or was just there for "decoration."
However, the paper noted, her presence raised questions about how Trump will handle conflicts of interests involving his business and political responsibilities.
Politico reports her appearance at the meeting came after reports a Trump transition staffer asked about securing clearances for the incoming president's adult children, who are expected to run Trump's businesses after he is sworn in as president.
The political news website said Trump's decision to have Ivanka sit in on the meeting "is likely to raise fresh concerns about how the incoming president is handling potential conflicts of interest."
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