One of Steve Bannon's Navy Seal security guards lost his cool after a 5ft 2in woman made a snide comment towards the former Trump strategist in a hotel elevator, it has been revealed.

Samantha Ettus found herself in the same elevator as Bannon and his two security guards at Manhattan's Regency Hotel on Tuesday.

Unable to resist the urge to skewer Bannon, who was part of President Trump's original West Wing team before being ousted earlier this year, Ettus told him: 'I hope you get what you deserve.'

Furious, one of Bannon's two former Navy Seal security guards moved towards her as if he were about to 'pounce'.

DailyMail.com understands the veteran was only settled when Bannon told him: 'Let it go, Major Chief.'

Samantha Ettus's photograph of Bannon entering the elevator with his two Navy Seal security guards which she took moments before one of them lunged at her at The Regency Hotel on Tuesday. She shared it along with her account of their run-in later

Samantha Ettus, 45, said she was shocked by the security guard's outburst

Ettus, said she was stunned when one of the two bulky bodyguards with him appeared to move towards her. She said it was the other body guard who physically restrained him.

They three men then got out and Ettus, who writes books about life balance, said she rode the elevator back to the lobby in shock.

'It was like something out of a bad movie. The security guard’s reaction shocked me, because I chose my words carefully' she said.

She gave her account of the apparent run-in to Page Six on Thursday, telling the newspaper: 'His security team were all big guys, wearing exactly the same outfit, and they were very tense — they didn’t look happy that I was in the elevator with them, even though I am 5-foot-2-inches and not threatening-looking at all.

'I couldn’t resist saying, "I hope you get what you deserve." Bannon turned around, then one of his bodyguards made a motion like he was going to pounce on me.

'He had both hands out, like he was going to come at me and grab me, then another Bannon bodyguard held him back.'

Bannon, 63, did not comment when approached by DailyMail.com on Wednesday morning.

Bannon was seen entering the Sherry Netherland, where ousted CBS host Charlie Rose lives, earlier in the day on Tuesday with a swarm of security guards

Bannon diffused the Navy Seal by telling him: 'Let it go, Major Chief' before the three got out of the elevator

A source played down the incident and said it was not as physically dramatic as Ettus made it out to be.

The woman said she felt compelled to say something to Bannon who she feels 'steered the country' in the wrong way during his brief tenure in the White House.

'I think he has steered our country in a bad direction — he doesn’t represent the values of America.

'You don’t get many chances to confront someone like that. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t use my voice and say something.'

Bannon was spotted on Tuesday entering the same building where Charlie Rose, the ousted CBS star who was fired yesterday amid growing sexual misconduct allegations, lives.

Ettus, a bestselling life balance author (pictured above in 2013), said she was stunned by the Navy Seal's outburst

It is not clear who he was visiting at the time.

Bannon has already pledged his support of Roy Moore, the Alabama Senate hopeful who has been accused of misconduct by nine different women.

He has not spoken publicly of his decision to stand by Moore but DailyMail.com understands he has no intention of withdrawing his support of Moore's campaign.

The president would not be drawn on his opinion of the accusations against Moore when questioned on Tuesday after the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon.

He said only: 'Moore denies it,' when asked by reporters for his view of the allegations.