WASHINGTON – Hope Hicks, one of Donald Trump’s longest-serving aides, isresigning as the US president’s communications director, the White Housesaid Wednesday.
“Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years,”Trump said, in a statement on the departure of perhaps his most trustedaide and confidante, who was a key figure in the Republican’s electioncampaign before joining him in the White House.
“I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me aboutpursuing other opportunities, I totally understood,” the president added.“I am sure we will work together again in the future.”
“There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump,”the 29-year-old Hicks said in a statement of her own.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said no timeline had been set forHicks’ departure, and denied any link between her decision and herquestioning Tuesday by a congressional panel probing Russian meddling inthe 2016 presidential election.
During her appearance before the House Intelligence Committee, Trump’scommunications director had stuck to answering pre-approved questions, andrefused to answer many of the other questions put to her by the lawmakers.
That meant avoiding questions about her work and White House contacts withRussia, according to lawmakers present at the closed session.
Hicks had cut a discreet figure in the White House since the president tookoffice a year ago — but was brutally thrust into the spotlight in earlyFebruary when another top Trump aide with whom she had become romanticallyinvolved was accused of domestic abuse.
Former White House staff secretary Rob Porter — who denies the abuseclaimed by two ex-wives — resigned following the allegations. APP / AFP