German Foreign Minister Criticizes Ivanka Trump as Part of 'Nepotism'

Germany's foreign minister has criticised US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka for her role as a White House adviser, calling it a form of 'nepotism'.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel at a conference in Berlin on April 26. Photo: AFP

"I find some things strange, such as the fact that his daughter's visit to Germany is treated as a world-class event, while the mix of politics, family and business reminds us of nepotism and that is unlikely to exist here," Sigmar Gabriel said in an interview with German media.

According to Presstv, the German foreign minister made the above comment when referring to Ivanka Trump's visit to Berlin last week to attend a conference promoting economic empowerment for women, at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Ivanka Trump's speech was punctuated by whistles and boos from the audience when she said her father was a feminist.

"I always find it disturbing when someone's family member, who has never been elected, suddenly appears as an official representative of a country and is treated as if they were a member of the royal family," Mr. Gabriel added.

Commenting on Donald Trump's first 100 days as president, the German foreign minister said the situation "has improved" but "is still not good".

German Chancellor Merkel (left) and US President Ivanka Trump's eldest daughter and adviser leave a discussion at the W20 conference in Berlin on April 25. Photo: AFP

Ivanka worked for her father's company before Trump was elected president. She now serves as an unpaid White House adviser. US activists have criticized Ivanka for benefiting from nepotism. US President Trump has also been criticized by political opponents and ethics experts for placing his children in positions of power. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Ivanka's husband, was also appointed a senior White House adviser by his father-in-law.

Last month, Ivanka Trump, who did not have an official government position at the time, also caused controversy for being seated next to German Chancellor Merkel at a meeting on labor training.

According to VNE