Marco Rubio and Ivanka Trump’s spectacularly calamitous hug is testimony of the old adage it takes two to tango.

The Florida senator, who ran against Donald Trump to become the Republican presidential candidate, was pictured attempting to embrace the President's daughter during a government meeting about paid family leave.

While he appeared awkwardly, stiffly eager as he leant in, Ms Trump looked obstinately unreceptive with her arms glued to her side. The image quickly went viral and overshadowed coverage of the actual contents of the meeting with Republican senators and representatives to discuss tax reform and parental leave.

Mr Rubio and Ms Trump have now responded to the infamously stilted hug and desperately attempted to brush off suggestions it was awkward.

Ms Trump, who is an unpaid White House advisor to her father, jumped in on the joke, saying: “Anonymous sources say Marco Rubio planned the alleged failed hug. I have no comment (but I would have hugged him anyway!)”

The former White House hopeful, who is of Cuban descent, quipped he would be opening “an investigation” to unearth the truth about the “alleged failed hug”.

“Just left Intel comm and informed meeting today with Ivanka Trump blowing up Twitter over alleged failed hug! Investigating. Will respond soon,” Mr Rubio said on Twitter.

Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Show all 8 1 /8 Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade A marcher hold a sign that reads "Love is Love is Love" on the National Mall with the Washington Monument in the background during the Equality March for Unity and Pride in Washington AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Marchers unfurl a huge rainbow flag as they prepare to march in the Equality March for Unity and Pride in Washington AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Marchers gather to hear speakers at the end of the Los Angeles LGBTQ #ResistMarch AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade Gil Mendez, of San Francisco, holds a sign to honor the victims of the shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando as he marches during the Equality March for Unity and Pride in Washington AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade An demonstrator looks on as LGBT members and their supporters take part of the Equality March for Unity AFP/Getty Images Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade A marcher listens to speakers at the end of the Los Angeles LGBTQ #ResistMarch AP Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade LGBT members and their supporters take part of the Equality March for Unity AFP/Getty Images Thousands march against Donald Trump in LGBT rights parade A marcher mugs for the camera during the Los Angeles LGBTQ #ResistMarch AP

“We believe we have our own unclassified photographic evidence that will shed greater details on this incident,” he continued. "We are also attempting to acquire multi-angle video which we believe will provide greater insight into this important matter”.

He then shared a new photo of the pair although it wasn’t exactly clear what it was supposed to show.

The image immediately whipped up a frenzy on Twitter with people delighting in dissecting the moment. One person captioned the image with alternative lyrics from TLC’s iconic song “No Scrubs”.

“I'm cringing just looking at this,” chipped in another.