Hope Hicks shocked many especially in the White House on Wednesday when she abruptly announced her resignation. She is one of the longest-serving aides at the White House and a close confidant to Donald Trump. Reasons for her decisions are still unknown but it is evident that she has been a key witness to every milestone and controversy in Trump’s campaign and time at the White House.
Hope Hicks was called upon by the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday for an interview to answer questions on the ongoing investigations to determine whether Trump’s campaign had any links to the Russian meddling with the 2016 presidential elections. The interview went well although the communications director did not answer all questions. She asserted to the panel that she was not allowed to answer any questions on Trump’s administration after he took the oath of office.
Hicks Position at the White House
Hicks is more of a surrogate daughter to the President than a White House staffer. Her leaving may impact the president who values loyalty and affirmation; both attributes that Hicks has. Her resignation marks the latest in a sequence of high-level departures in Trump’s second year of tenure. Hope is the fourth staffer to occupy the position which supports the fact that Trump’s administration is one amongst others with record high turnover.
Trump praised Hicks in a brief statement stating that her work was exemplary for the last three years and that he will miss her being on his side. An anonymous White House official informed the Associated Press that Hicks told the President of her decision on Wednesday. Hicks’ departure leaves a vacuum in the White House communication department as well as the president’s collection of trusted aides. She made her announcement a day after when news broke of Josh Raffel’s imminent departure. He is the communications deputy director.
Possible Relief for John Kelly
John Kelly, the White House chief of staff said that Hicks had become a reliable advisor and counselor implying that she will be missed. Behind the scenes, Kelly and Hicks occasionally conflicted over Hicks’ more informal role. Kelly had partially supported the decision to make Hicks the communication director after the short-lived tenure of her predecessor, Anthony Scaramucci. White House officials and external advisors speculate that John Kelly will now have the opportunity to assert full control over the chaotic West Wing.
