Trump Offered to Nominate Ricardel as Ambassador to Estonia

Mira Ricardel, who was forced out of her role as deputy national security adviser by first lady Melania Trump, was reportedly offered a job as ambassador to Estonia by President Donald Trump.

But Ricardel rejected the job, two people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on Friday.

Ricardel was pushed out of her position as the top deputy under national security adviser John Bolton earlier this week after reportedly arguing with Melania Trump about the first lady’s October trip to Africa.

“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 stated.

Ricardel was upset that there was no seat for her on the plane to Africa and attempted to stop resources from the National Security Council going toward the trip, Bloomberg reported earlier.

“It’s been an honor to serve the president as deputy national security adviser,” Ricardel said in a statement Friday obtained by the news outlet. “I admire the president and first lady and have great respect for my colleagues who are dedicated to supporting the president’s policies, and I look forward to working with them in the months ahead.”

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday stated that Ricardel would “transition to a new role within the administration.” Whether Ricardel will be offered another position within the administration remains to be seen.