In phone call, prez slams UK’s PM

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump reportedly criticised British Prime Minister Theresa May during a phone call on Air Force One last week, pointing to UK’s inability to contain Iran and what he felt were “unfair trade deals with European countries”, The Washington Post reported.

Trump was on his way to Paris when May called to congratulate him on the Republican party’s performance in midterm elections.

The report said May and her aides were “shaken” by Trump’s foul mood and the next few days were “testy”.

“He was frustrated with the trip, and he’s itching to make some changes,” a White House official told the newspaper. “This is a week where things could get really dicey.”

RICARDEL FIRED AFTER ROW WITH FIRST LADY

The White House has confirmed that deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel was leaving her position after First Lady Melania Trump’s office issued an unprecedented public statement calling for her ouster.

In a statement on Wednesday, press secretary Sarah Sanders said, “Mira Ricardel will continue to support the president as she departs the White House to transition to a new role within the administration.”

The statement released by Melania Trump’s office on Tuesday seemed to come out of the blue and put the focus squarely on Ricardel.

A source said Ricardel had quarrelled with the First Lady’s staff over her October trip to Africa on issues including seating on the plane and the use of National Security Council resources.