Melania Trump calls for husband to fire top security adviser 'after clash over seating arrangements'

Melania Trump has extraordinarily called on her husband to fire the deputy national security adviser after reports their staff clashed over seating arrangements.

The First Lady, in a statement issued through her spokeswoman, said Mira Ricardel “no longer deserves the honour” of serving on the National Security Council (NSC).

It comes after Mrs Trump’s staff clashed with the top advisor over a number of things including seating on the aircraft during a recent visit to Africa, it was reported.

Mrs Trump’s spokeswoman said in statement: "It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House."

Speculation mounted over whether President Donald Trump had already dismissed Ms Ricardel, with the Wall Street Journal reporting she had been escorted from the White House.

This was later corrected and officials spoke out to say Ms Ricardel remained in the building and had not been dismissed.

And shortly before Mrs Trump’s statement was issued, Ms Ricardel was among a group of administration officials pictured standing behind the president at a White House ceremony.

The fallout comes after the Wall Street Journal also reported the security official clashed with the First Lady’s staff during a visit to Africa in October.

The newspaper said they argued over such things as seating on the aircraft and requests to use the Security Council’s resources.

A White House official has since said Ms Ricardel wanted to travel to Africa with the first lady but was denied seating on the plane because there was no room for her and several others who initially expected to make the trip.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss White House personnel matters, said Ms Ricardel then threatened not to send any NSC staff.

A spokesman for the NSC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Agencies contributed to this report.