President Trump’s long-expected post-midterms White House shakeup is underway, with Attorney General Jeff Sessions being the first to get the boot. But a much larger White House exodus is being planned, reportedly including Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and Chief of Staff John Kelly.
But there are others expected to get pink slips.
A Trump administration top national security official is reportedly also on the firing list, for reasons that appear to have nothing to do with national security.
“The president has also decided to remove Mira Ricardel, the top deputy for national security adviser John Bolton, officials said,” The Wall Street Journal reports.
“The president became involved in that decision at the urging of first lady Melania Trump, whose staff battled with Ms. Ricardel during the first lady’s trip to Africa last month over seating on the plane and requests to use National Security Council resources, according to people familiar with the matter.” the Journal notes.
The conflict with Ricardel may be among the reasons Trump wants to give Kelly the boot.
NBC News adds questions about Kelly’s “future in the White House recently became more serious after his repeated clashes with national security adviser John Bolton and his deputy, Mira Ricardel.”
Kelly has been battling with the First Lady’s staff, denying them promotions.
One White House official told NBC News there “have been instances where the East Wing staff were not treated as equals to the male-dominated decision makers in Chief Kelly’s office.”
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