Senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said Tuesday she meant "no disrespect" after a photo of her kneeling on a couch in the Oval Office sparked debate on social media.

"I was being asked to take a picture in a crowded room with the press behind us," Conway explained in an interview on Fox Business' "Lou Dobbs Tonight."

"I was asked to take a certain angle and was doing exactly that. I certainly meant no disrespect, I didn’t mean to have my feet on the couch," she said.

The photo of Conway sitting on her knees on the couch in the Oval Office while President Trump met with leaders of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) circulated widely on social media.

Some Twitter users criticized Conway for putting her shoes on Oval Office furniture while others posted photos of former President Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaBiden to hold call with Senate Democrats on Thursday: report Romney undecided on authorizing subpoenas for GOP Obama-era probes Billboards in four states and DC demand ICE 'free the families' MORE with his feet up on the Resolute Desk.

Conway with her shoes on the couch in Oval Office - consistent with general level of disrespect Trump team has shown pic.twitter.com/r8mMki0Yyb — Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) February 28, 2017

People "outraged" at Kellyanne Conway putting her feet on a couch so she can take a photo, but... pic.twitter.com/6IW5Iv31qW — Paul Sacca (@Paul_Sacca) February 28, 2017

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Conway said Tuesday the president had the "largest gathering of men and women to date in the Oval Office for a picture."

"These are the presidents and other leaders within the historically black college and universities and they came to visit the White House," she said.

"Of course, just today, the President signed the executive order on HCBU’s and I had an occasion to speak at length to many of those leaders before that picture and after that picture and again today," she continued.

"And I really want to thank so many of them for coming to my defense because they were in the room and they know."

Conway said the photo came from a journalist "who is not happy" that Trump is president.

"But I just want people to focus on the great work of the HBCU presidents," she said, "and how honored we were to have them here.”