Advertisement

White House aide’s job in jeopardy after Melania Trump issues scathing statement

Click to play video: 'White House faces more possible staff shakeups potentially triggered by Melania Trump'
White House faces more possible staff shakeups potentially triggered by Melania Trump
WATCH: White House faces more possible staff shakeups potentially triggered by Melania Trump – Nov 14, 2018

President Donald Trump is moving to replace his deputy national security adviser after she feuded with first lady Melania Trump, two sources familiar with the matter said, with a spokeswoman for the first lady leaving no doubt about where she stood on the matter.

The first lady complained to the president that she was unhappy with how she was being treated by Mira Ricardel, a former Boeing Co executive who worked on the Trump presidential campaign and was picked by National Security Adviser John Bolton to be his deputy earlier this year, two sources told Reuters.

Asked about the reports, Melania Trump’s spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham issued a extraordinarily frank statement:

“It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House.”

Story continues below advertisement

READ MORE: Melania Trump says she’s ‘the most bullied person in the world’

Sources said that Melania Trump explicitly asked the president to oust Ricardel after their dealings over the Africa trip “didn’t go well.” The other source said that Melania Trump felt that Ricardel tried to short-change the first lady in terms of U.S. government resources allocated to support her Africa tour.

The sources did not elaborate on the clash over resources.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

WATCH: Melania Trump says she doesn’t always agree with president

Click to play video: 'Melania Trump says she doesn’t always agree with president'
Melania Trump says she doesn’t always agree with president

The White House and the National Security Council (NSC) did not respond to requests for comment.

Ricardel could not be reached for comment. She had a prominent place standing to Trump’s right on Tuesday at a White House ceremony in the Roosevelt Room marking Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
Story continues below advertisement
Deputy National Security Adviser Mira Ricardel watches as President Donald Trump arrives for a Diwali ceremonial lighting of the Diya in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Washington.
Deputy National Security Adviser Mira Ricardel watches as President Donald Trump arrives for a Diwali ceremonial lighting of the Diya in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, in Washington. AP Photo/Evan Vucci
A source familiar with Ricardel’s White House performance said Ricardel also ran afoul of much of the NSC staff and “sort of alienated everyone” except for Bolton, the veteran conservative foreign policy expert who has been her immediate superior.
WATCH: Melania Trump dodges question on hat worn during Kenya safari
Click to play video: 'Melania Trump dodges question on hat worn during Kenya safari : ‘Focus on what I do’'
Melania Trump dodges question on hat worn during Kenya safari : ‘Focus on what I do’

Bolton is currently traveling in Asia with Vice President Mike Pence.

One of the sources familiar with the White House intrigue said the tensions began building to a crisis point about a month ago and serious, but apparently unsuccessful, efforts were made to defuse the dispute.

Story continues below advertisement

Ricardel was also believed to have had a dislike of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, current and former officials have told Reuters.

WATCH: First Lady sends message about cyberbullying

Click to play video: 'First Lady sends message about cyberbullying'
First Lady sends message about cyberbullying

Sponsored content

AdChoices