Ivanka Trump was met with boos and hisses from members of the audience at a conference in Germany when she attempted to defended her father’s attitude and record on women.

Ms Trump, a special adviser to the President, was in Berlin at the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel representing the United States at the W20 Summit of female business leaders.

Speaking on a panel Wednesday morning (AEST) that included Ms Merkel and International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde, the First Daughter was asked about President Trump’s past comments that have been seen to treat women disrespectfully.

Ms Trump said her father has been “a tremendous champion of supporting families and enabling them to thrive,” prompting boos from the audience.

“You hear the reaction from the audience,” said the panel’s moderator, Miriam Meckel, editor in chief of business magazine WirtschaftsWoche.

“I need to address one more point. Some attitudes toward women your father has displayed might leave one questioning whether he’s such an empowerer for women.”

Ms. Meckel appeared to be referring to a video publicised during the presidential election in which Mr. Trump was recorded disparaging women.

“I’ve certainly heard the criticism from the media, that’s been perpetuated,” Ms. Trump said, eliciting laughter from some sections of the audience.

VERBATIM: Ivanka Trump booed at women's summit. Via @ReutersTV https://t.co/k3eMtyIIa5 pic.twitter.com/r55SookHqj

— Reuters (@Reuters) April 25, 2017

She said that the thousands of women working in her father’s businesses “are a testament to his belief and solid conviction in the potential of women and their ability to do the job as well as any man”.

Ms Trump’s trip to Germany was her first international mission as a White House adviser.

The W20 Summit focused on women’s leadership in the Group of 20 nations and was attended by many high-profile female businesswomen.

“The German audience is not that familiar with the concept of a first daughter,” M. Meckel told Ms Trump. “I’d like to ask you, what is your role, and who are you representing, your father as President of the United States, the American people, or your business?” 

Germans have protested against Ivanka Trump and her father. Photo: Getty

“Certainly not the latter,” Ms. Trump replied, adding, “And I am rather unfamiliar with this role as well, as it is quite new to me.”

Ms Trump’s visit to Germany has been met with a mixed response, with many curious about the high-profile entrepreneur, and others angered by her father’s administration and her position within it.

Protesters gathered near the venue where Deutsche Bank hosted an evening gala for Ms Trump on Tuesday local time.

– With news agencies