Melania Trump’s dangerous move (opinion)

Editor’s Note: CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem is the author of “Security Mom: My Life Protecting the Home and Homeland.” She is a professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School, a former assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in the Obama administration, a former candidate for governor of Massachusetts and CEO of Zemcar. Indeed CNN reported Tuesday afternoon that “a White House official confirmed … that Trump has told people that Ricardel will be fired, but she has been given some time to clear out her desk.” The once private dispute between the first lady, her staff and Ricardel broke into the open this week after news reports that Ricardel had challenged some request from the first lady’s office about Melania Trump’s recent trip to Africa. CNN reported that a person familiar with the most recent dustup said “Ricardel quarreled with the first lady’s staff over seating on the plane and use of National Security Council resources.” Melania Trump’s spokeswoman issued a statement Tuesday that “t is the position of the office of the first lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House.” So, let me make a few things clear. First, Ricardel may have been behaving badly regarding the Africa trip; there are some suggestions in news reports that she deliberately withheld national security resources from the first lady’s office. Join us on Twitter and Facebook Melania Trump’s actions are consistent with the mercurial management preferences of the Trump family; indeed, the President is keen on calling the defense apparatus that exists to protect America “my generals.” The family has turned national security – once, not so long ago, immune from the political backstabbing and favor-grabbing that animate the political side of the White House – into its own TV-style drama.