Deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel was not fired and was not escorted out of the White House on Tuesday, two White House officials confirmed to the Washington Examiner.
The Wall Street Journal first reported Tuesday afternoon that Ricardel was terminated and escorted from the White House, hours after she appeared at a White House event standing just feet from President Trump.
Ricardel serves as the top national security adviser to John Bolton. Her job was reportedly on the line after she clashed with the first lady’s staff during Melania Trump’s trip to Africa last month over seating assignments on the plane and requests to use National Security Council resources. The first lady’s office also suspected Ricardel was behind some negative stories about Trump and her staff, reports said.
“It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House,” Trump’s communications director Stephanie Grisham said in a statement reported Tuesday by the Wall Street Journal.
The first lady reportedly lobbied the president to consider firing Ricardel, who has made a number of enemies within the administration, such as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and members of his team.
