Melania Trump calls for firing of national security aide Mira Ricardel in rare public rebuke of White House officials

Washington: US First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday publicly pushed for the dismissal of deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel — a rare criticism of a senior administration official by the president’s wife. [caption id=“attachment_4469647” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of First Lady Melania Trump. Reuters[/caption] The rebuke — via a brief statement from the first lady’s spokeswoman — came amid swirling speculation about a possible shake-up of President Donald Trump’s cabinet following last week’s midterm elections. “It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House,” Melania Trump’s spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. The Wall Street Journal claimed Ricardel had been fired and escorted out of the White House, but an administration official denied that to reporters. Ricardel reportedly battled with the first lady’s staff during her trip to Africa last month, and was believed to be the source of negative stories about Melania Trump, according to the Journal, which cited unnamed sources. After last week’s midterm elections, the Republican president was expected to make some changes as he prepares for the second half of his term in office.