A day after she “Bannoned” members of the House Intel Committee during private testimony, White House Communications Director and longtime Trump confidante Hope Hicks is preparing to leave the West Wing, according to the New York Times.
Hicks is one of the longest serving members of the administration, and was a key player during the campaign – and in the Trump Organization’s media machine before that, where she was first brought on by Ivanka Trump to manage PR for Ivanka’s clothing line.
Hicks is leaving of her own volition, and has reportedly been mulling her departure for several months. According to several anonymous White House staffers, she told colleagues she had accomplished what she felt she could in the job. The job made her one of the most powerful people in Washington. Unlike most of the White House comms directors that came before her (during the Trump era and in previous administrations), Hicks worked primarily behind the scenes, and was one of the least visible members of Trump’s inner circle. She has rarely sat for interviews and profiles, and has made only a handful of public statements not directly pertaining to her job.
She did not say what her next job would be. A CBS News reporter said the exact date of her departure has yet to be decided, but will likely be some time during the next few weeks.
WH says the exact departure date for Hope Hicks is to be determined – but will be sometime in the next few weeks.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 28, 2018
Earlier today, the Times reported that Hicks admitted to the Intel Committee that she had told “white lies” on behalf of President Trump (to the media, of course) – but had never lied about anything pertaining to the various investigations into collusion between the Trump camp and Russia.
Both Trump and Chief of Staff John Kelly praised Hope in on-the-record statements made to the Times, and the White House Communications Department confirmed her departure.
“Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years,” Mr. Trump said. “She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person. I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future.”
“I quickly realized what so many have learned about Hope — she is strategic, poised and wise beyond her years,” said John F. Kelly, the White House chief of staff. “She became a trusted adviser and counselor and did a tremendous job overseeing the communications for the president’s agenda including the passage of historic tax reform. She has served her country with great distinction. To say that she will be missed, is an understatement.”
Speculation will turn now to the question of who will replace Hicks. In an interesting twist, media reports published this week noted that Trump has recently been pushing for campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, whom Hicks briefly dated during the campaign though Lewandowski was married at the time, to join the West Wing in a senior role.
via Zero Hedge http://ift.tt/2CPmrPI Tyler Durden