By Aaron Miller-
White House Communications Director Hope Hicks has suddenly announced her resignation.
Hicks is one of U.S President Donald Trump’s most loyal aides and is one of his most trusted advisers.
Her departure has shocked many in the White House. Hicks is one of the president’s longest-serving advisers.
The news comes a day after Ms. Hicks was interviewed for nine hours by the House panel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, as well as contact between Mr. Trump’s campaign and Russia.
In a statement, Mr Trump praised Ms Hicks for her work over the last three years, saying he “will miss having her by my side”.
Ms Hicks began her White House tenure as director of strategic communications — a title that only partly captured her more expansive role as the president’s gatekeeper to the press.
Ms Hicks acknowledged to a House intelligence panel on Tuesday that she has occasionally told “white lies” for Mr Trump. However, she said she had not lied about anything relevant to the Russia investigation.
Ms Hicks had also been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller, as part of his extensive probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Ms Hicks said in a statement: “There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump.”She added she wished Trump and his administration the “very best”.
The 29-year-old former model and ex-Trump Organisation employee have been by Mr Trump’s side for years. She is reported to have told colleagues she felt she had accomplished all she could in the White House. She is the fourth person to serve as White House communications chief.
Before Wednesday’s announcement, Ms Hicks is reported to have been increasingly feeling the stress of her position.
Ms Hicks, who has long tried to avoid media attention, was thrust into the spotlight recently when it was revealed she had been dating former Staff Secretary Rob Porter. He left the administration after accusations that he had abused his two ex-wives became public.
Ms Hicks helped craft the White House’s initial supportive response.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that Ms Hicks would remain at the White House “for several weeks” . She denied that her decision to leave had anything to do with her lengthy evidence before the House Intelligence Committee.
“Don’t try to read more into it than exists,” Mrs Sanders said. “This is something that she’s been thinking about for a while.
Ms Hicks began her White House tenure as director of strategic communications — a title that only partly captured her more expansive role as the president’s gatekeeper to the press.
Ms Hicks acknowledged to a House intelligence panel on Tuesday that she has occasionally told “white lies” for Mr Trump. But she said she had not lied about anything relevant to the Russia investigation.
She has also been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller, in his expansive probe of Russian interference of the 2016 election and potential misdeeds committed by those in the president’s orbit.
Ms Hicks said in a statement: “There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump.” She added she wished Trump and his administration the “very best”.
A former Ralph Lauren fashion model and public relations professional who worked for Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka, Ms Hicks, 29, had no political background when Mr Trump asked her to serve on his campaign. Ms Hicks is reported to have been increasingly feeling the stress of her position.
Ms Hicks, who has long tried to avoid media attention, was thrust into the spotlight recently when it was revealed she had been dating former Staff Secretary Rob Porter. He left the administration after accusations that he had abused his two ex-wives became public.
Ms Hicks helped craft the White House’s initial supportive response.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that Ms Hicks would remain at the White House “for several weeks” and denied that her decision to leave had anything to do with her lengthy evidence before the House Intelligence Committee.
“Don’t try to read more into it than exists,” Mrs Sanders said. “This is something that she’s been thinking about for a while.
She began her White House tenure as director of strategic communications — a title that only partly captured her more expansive role as the president’s gatekeeper to the press.
Ms Hicks acknowledged to a House intelligence panel on Tuesday that she has occasionally told “white lies” for Mr Trump. But she said she had not lied about anything relevant to the Russia investigation.
She has also been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller, in his expansive probe of Russian interference of the 2016 election and potential misdeeds committed by those in the president’s orbit.
Ms Hicks said in a statement: “There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump.”
She added she wished Trump and his administration the “very best”.
A former Ralph Lauren fashion model and public relations professional who worked for Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka, Ms Hicks, 29, had no political background when Mr Trump asked her to serve on his campaign.
Before Wednesday’s announcement, Ms Hicks is reported to have been increasingly feeling the stress of her position.
Ms Hicks, who has long tried to avoid media attention, was thrust into the spotlight recently when it was revealed she had been dating former Staff Secretary Rob Porter. He left the administration after accusations that he had abused his two ex-wives became public.
Ms Hicks helped craft the White House’s initial supportive response.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that Ms Hicks would remain at the White House “for several weeks” and denied that her decision to leave had anything to do with her lengthy evidence before the House Intelligence Committee.
“Don’t try to read more into it than exists,” Mrs Sanders said. “This is something that she’s been thinking about for a while