Hope Hicks’ last day in the White House was Tuesday, multiple sources familiar with the matter tell CNN, a final departure planned before the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol. Hicks was one of President Donald Trump’s most influential confidantes and a longtime loyalist but hasn’t been at the White House much in recent weeks after she felt her influence waned after she pushed back on the president’s baseless voter fraud claims, the sources said. She also urged him against pursuing legal challenges without competent lawyers in place.
Hope Hicks is exiting her role as the top communications officer for Fox and returning to the White House. White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said that she will be working for Jared Kushner’s office as counselor to the president and senior adviser. Hicks has been EVP-chief communications officer for Fox Corp. She joined the company last fall.
Fox has named former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks as its chief communications officer. Hicks was head of the communications team at the White House before leaving in March. She worked for Trump at his company before he was elected.
The White House press office is ground zero for Trumpian dysfunction. Mercedes Schlapp and Tony Sayegh’s fight to lead it sparked even more havoc.
Two contenders have emerged as the most likely candidates to succeed Hope Hicks as White House communications director after the confidante to President Trump leaves her post at the end of the month. They are Mercedes Schlapp, White House director of strategic communications, and Tony Sayegh, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Treasury Department.
The departure of one of the president’s longest-serving advisers, who worked as a one-woman communications shop during his winning campaign, came as a surprise to most in the White House — and cast a pall over the West Wing at a tumultuous time. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Exclusives
Hope Hicks, a longtime member of President Donald Trump’s communications team, will assume the role of White House communications director on a permanent basis, a senior administration official confirmed Tuesday morning. Hicks had taken on the role of communications director on an interim basis last month.
Hope Hicks will be named the new White House communications director. President Trump has offered the job to Hicks and she has accepted the position, according to a White House insider. Hicks has been close by Trump’s side since the early days of the campaign and is one of his most trusted staffers. She has been serving on the press team in more of a behind-the-scenes role as the director of strategic communications.
