Article snippet: Top National Security Council official Mira Ricardel is exiting her post after an extraordinary, high-profile clash with first lady MORE. The White House said in a statement Wednesday that Ricardel will “transition to a new role within the administration,” but did not specify her new job. “The president is grateful for Ms. Ricardel’s continued service to the American people and her steadfast pursuit of his national security priorities,” said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The announcement capped off a tense day of speculation about Ricardel's future after the first lady's office took the unusual step of publicly calling for her ouster. It appears to be a compromise solution, since national security adviser John Bolton reportedly fought to save Ricardel, his top deputy. But her removal from the White House is a sign of growing upheaval within the White House and shed light on how the first lady's office has become involved. East Wing staff reportedly clashed with Ricardel over seats on government aircraft during Melania Trump's trip to Africa last month. The first lady's team then accused Ricardel, who helped coordinate the visit, of spinning negative stories about Melania Trump. “It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House,” Stephanie Grisham, a spokesman for Melania Trump, said in a statement Tuesday. That triggered an awkward deadlock at the White House. Ricardel re... Link to the full article to read more