Good Morning America's Lara Spencer under fire for Donald Trump photo

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Good Morning America host Lara Spencer posted a photo of her and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to Instagram on Tuesday
The pair are seen in the photo smiling as Trump places his arm around Spencer's waist and she puts her arm around his shoulder
Many questioned their positions and asked if the five-foot-nine Spencer was sitting on the six-foot-two Trump's lap
But Spencer said she posed for the photo while standing next to Trump, who was sitting in a chair at a 'counter-height table'
Spencer dressed as the presidential candidate for Halloween on Friday's episode of Good Morning America

Published: 18:34 EST, 3 November 2015 | Updated: 09:04 EST, 4 November 2015

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Good Morning America host Lara Spencer has been criticized after posting a photo to Instagram of her apparently sitting on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's lap.

In the photo, Spencer has one arm around Trump's shoulder and the other across his midsection, while is hand is on her waist. They are both smiling.

Spencer, who dressed up as Trump for Halloween, first captioned the photo: 'Can't beat having the REAL DonaldJTrump on #goodmorningamerica. :)'

But several commenters questioned whether or not Spencer was sitting on Trump's lap.

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Good Morning America Host Lara Spencer was criticized after taking this photo with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and posting it to her Instagram. Many commenters questioned if Spencer was sitting on Trump's lap in the photo

A spokeswoman for ABC said that Spencer posed for the photo while standing next to Trump, who was sitting in a chair at a 'counter-height table' (pictured)

Soon after, Spencer edited the caption on her photo: 'Let's clear this up – I'm standing next to Donald Trump. Said a quick hello and welcomed him to the GMA studio for first time since he announced his candidacy.'

Commenters are still questioning Spencer's statement, however, as it seems questionable that the five-foot-nine host towers above the six-foot-two presidential candidate in the photo.

A spokeswoman for ABC said that Spencer posed for the photo while standing next to Trump, who was sitting in a chair at a 'counter-height table'.

The picture has garnered more than 900 likes on Instagram and the majority of the commenters criticized Spencer's actions.

'Just lost some respect for you with this photo,' one user wrote.

'This guy disrepects (sic) women does not apologize and you welcome him with open arms. That's what's wrong with america,' another person wrote.

'So much for objective journalism, or at the very least, the perception of objective journalism. Very sad state of affairs,' one user commented.

Spencer dressed as the presidential candidate for Halloween on Friday's episode of Good Morning America.

Spencer did her best Trump impression when she dressed up as the Republican for Halloween on Friday

'It's fantastic to be here,' Spencer said in a mock Trump voice. 'The ratings will be huge. Is this a TV opportunity? I plan to build a wall between me and the competition, I flew in on my beautiful private jet.'

She stole the show and won the lip sync challenge with her Trump performance. Performing the Nae Nae, the anchor refused to break character from The Donald.

She was easily voted the winner of the challenge. Faris told her: 'There's no bad blood between us, like me and some other contestants. I've got nothing but fireworks for you.'

Trump, who has previously been criticized for his sexist comments about women, was interviewed by Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday.

The ABC representative said Spencer, who appeared in a Donald Trump costume on Friday's show, did not appear on-air with the candidate on Tuesday.

Aly Colon, Knight Professor of Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University, said the photo and its display online 'gives the impression that these people are close to each other in some way. How close? I don't know.

'But it puts her in a position where people might question whether as a journalist she is representing the public or Donald Trump.

'If they want to maintain credibility, it's important for journalists to keep a certain distance from people they cover.'

His advice for how a journalist maintains the public's confidence: 'Adopt more of a hands-off policy'.