Donald Trump administration fires senior National Security Council aide 'for criticising President'

Craig Deare was selected for the role by Michael Flynn, who was forced to resign after less than a month in office

Craig Deare's public criticism also reportedly included an embarrassing readout of Mr Trump's call with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto (AP)

The White House fired a senior National Security Council aide after he reportedly criticised President Donald Trump.

Craig Deare, the NSCs senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, was dismissed after he publicly mocked Mr Trump at an off-the-record event earlier this week, Politico reports.

A source told Politico Mr Deare criticised the president and his chief strategist and closer adviser Steve Bannon at the Woodrow Wilson Centre think-tank in front of around two dozen scholars.

Mr Deare also complained that senior NSC aides did not have direct lines of communication with the president.

His public criticism also reportedly included an embarrassing readout of Mr Trump's call with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Mr Pena Nieto announced he would not meet Mr Trump after the US president threatened to cancel a series of upcoming meetings with Mexico if the country did not agree to pay for his promised US-Mexico border wall.

Less than 24 hours later, the two leaders held a call amid rising tensions, which Mr Trump described as a "friendly call". The content of the call has not been disclosed.

Mr Deare had been selected for the role by Michael Flynn, who resigned less than a month after taking office over revelations he had spoken to a Russian diplomat about US sanctions before Mr Trump took office.

It is illegal for a private citizen to conduct diplomacy on behalf of the US.

Vice-Admiral Robert Harward, Mr Trump's choice for Mr Flynn's successor, turned own the role for personal reasons.

Mr Trump reportedly interviewed other candidates at his Mar-a-Lago resort this weekend.