Pictures released on Thursday evening by the Japanese government that showed Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner joining the president-elect for a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have led to widespread criticism on social media.

A number of Twitter users are expressing their outrage and shock after learning that Ivanka - who has no security clearance and is set to run her father's business in a blind trust once he takes office - was present for Donald's first sit-down talk with a foreign dignitary.

'Ivanka Trump, responsible for running Trump businesses, sits in on meeting with a foreign power. Conflict of interest is an understatement,' wrote Matt Ortega, a former member of Hillary Clinton's digital team.

Frequent Trump critic Keith Olberman was a bit more blunt meanwhile, writing: 'Attention @realDonaldTrump Nobody else in your family was "elected." Get your daughter THE F*** OUT OF STATE MEETINGS.'

Some are referring to Ivanka as having the look of a 'leggy assistant' in the photo, while others are taking issue with the level of involvement Trump's three oldest children and his son-in-law have in the still forming administration.

Meanwhile, someone with knowledge of the meeting tells DailyMail.com that Ivanka was simply stopping by the meeting when the photos were taken on Thursday.

And a family source adds: 'The President-elect has always encouraged Ivanka and his children to attend meetings with him. This was informal, but the family obviously needs to adjust to the new realities and they will.'

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Front and center: Photos from President-elect Donald Trump's meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed Ivanka and Jared Kushner were in present (Ivanka above across from General Michael Flynn, President-elect Trump, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and an interpreter)

Family affair: Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner were present for Donald Trump's meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who attended the meeting only with an interpreter

Off to work: Ivanka was spotted leaving her apartment in New York City on Friday morning (above)

Issue: Some on Twitter pointed out that it was a conflict of interest for Ivanka to be present

Very angry: Longtime Trump foe Keith Olbermann did not try and hide his anger with the situation

Most of the Twitter comments were in response to a photo posted by CNN reporter Ivan Watson that showed a leggy Ivanka sitting in a chair with her legs crossed directly across from her father, General Michael Flynn and Prime Minister Abe.

Soon after he posted the photo however Watson took it down from his account.

Watson later wrote on Twitter: 'Earlier, Donald and Ivanka Trump, & Gen Flynn met w/ Japanese PM Abe. I deleted handout photo after learning Trump had denied press access.'

The same photo that Watson posted was later included in the handouts provided to members of the press.

Because members of the press were not allowed in, there was some confusion as to how much of the meeting Ivanka and her husband Jared sat in on, though it now seems that Trump was only joined by General Flynn for the full sit down.

It was reported on Thursday that President-elect Trump had offered General Flynn the position of national security adviser.

And while Ivanka and Jared are part of Trump's transition team, they have not been offered roles in his administration and have no foreign policy experience.

This is part of the reason some people were upset and confused after seeing the photos from the meeting.

All smiles: Exactly what was discussed remains unknown - as do Kushner and Ivanka's roles in the meeting. Retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn (far right) was also present. He has been offered a position as National Security Adviser by Trump

Reason: Someone with knowledge of the meeting tells DailyMail.com that Ivanka was simply stopping in to greet her father’s guests

Poor fit: Users also pointed out that Jared and Ivanka do not have security clearance and have no experience in foreign policy

Problem: Many on Twitter took issue with this after the photos were released, pointing out that Ivanka is set to run her father's company in a blind trust

'Ivanka is sitting in on a meeting w/heads of state & #PresidentElect.. She has no National Security clearance. Trump's already going rogue,' wrote Victoria Brownworth.

Marcus Gilmer of Mashable tried to find some humor in the situation by also acknowledging the decor of the Trump Tower room where the meeting took place, writing: 'Wait why is Ivanka in this meeting with PM Abe and why is it being held in Liberace's coffin?'

Mother Jones was apparently left speechless, with political magazine tweeting from their account: 'OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG'

They also wrote in their piece about the meeting why they believe Ivanka was in the meeting.

'Here's my incredibly depressing guess: Trump believes that Japanese men consider it a sign of respect to have a pretty assistant in the room who listens attentively and silently. So he nabbed Ivanka and told her to act as decoration,' read an article on the Mother Jones website.

And one individual made reference to Ivanka's 60 Minutes jewelry scandal from earlier in the week, writing: 'Can't wait to see if later today we get an email about opportunity to buy Ivanka's stilettos, or perhaps Jared's watch?'

Ivanka came under fire after an employee at her company sent out a press release to members of the media pointing out that the 35-year-old real estate developer and designer was wearing a $10,800 bracelet from her jewelry collection when she appeared on 60 Minutes over the weekend.

That appearance was for her father's first interview since winning the election, and some called out the newly minted first daughter claiming that she was hoping to capitalize on her father's position for her own financial gain.

Rough week: Ivanka also came under fire earlier this week when her company promoted the bracelet she wore on 60 Minutes during her father's first interview

Keep it going: One Twitter user took the chance to again bring up that scandal

Decor: Another Twitter user made fun of the design and ecor in the meeting room

Abigail Klem, the president of the Ivanka Trump brand, later told DailyMail.com: 'This notification was sent by a well-intentioned marketing employee at one of our companies who was following customary protocol, and who, like many of us, is still making adjustments post-election.

'We are proactively discussing new policies and procedures with all of our partners going forward.'

President-elect Trump was also criticized earlier this week when he snuck out to dinner with his family on Tuesday without telling the press poll.

He and his four oldest children, along with their spouses, enjoyed a meal together at the 21 Club a little over an hour after his press secretary Hope Hicks had told members of the media that he was in for the night.

No one who was present at the meeting on Thursday has commented yet on why and for how long Ivanka and Jared were present.

Japan's Prime Minister Abe for his part said that the meeting had 'renewed my conviction that together with Mr Trump I will be able to establish a relationship of trust'.

'Without confidence between the two nations, our alliance would never function in the future,' he told media at The InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel after the his meeting.

Meeting: Abe and Trump shake hands in what was the President-elect's first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader

Job offer: The meeting was attended by retired Lt General Michael Flynn who has been offered the job of National Security Adviser

He declined to go into details on what was discussed in the hour-and-a-half conversation, but said he 'conveyed' his 'basic views' and promised a more in-depth meeting in the future.

Japan is one of Washington's closes allies, but its ministers were reportedly concerned during the run-up to the election by several of Trump's statements.

Abe gave Trump a golf driver and received golf-wear in return, Japanese officials said.

They included suggestions that he might pull thousands of US troops out of the region - where they help allies like South Korea and Japan counterbalance China - unless other countries paid up for the upkeep.

He also suggested that officially pacifist Japan will need to invest in its own nukes.

For nationalist Abe, who strongly opposes China, that was a huge matter of concern.

Trump also pledged to stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which would ease trade between the US, Japan and other Asian and American countries - which Trump said would kill American jobs.

That would be bad news for Japan, which ratified the TPP last week, and saw it as one route out of an economy that has been stagnant for years due to an ageing population and falling demand.