Meet Hope Hicks, Newly Appointed Interim Communications Director
Communications Director
By: Kayla Pasacreta
Many were probably googling the name Hope Hicks yesterday after the White House announced her as interim communications director. As the 5th person to be appointed to the position, Hicks will be replacing Anthony Scaramucci, who was fired after just 10 days.
Hicks at Trump Tower, photo via CNBC
Hicks is unique. A close person in Trump's inner circle, Trump affectionally calls her the 'Hopester'. She keeps a stunningly low-key profile. She often denies requests to speak to the press, she never has to defend the President to the press (so she is never caught in a lie). Hick's is Trump's longest-serving aide, she's remained one of the few within the administration the President has never publicly clashed with.
Hicks, pictured with Steve Bannon and Reince Priebus before boarding Air Force One, photo via New York Times
In January, Hicks was the featured honoree of Forbes' 30 Under 30 List. The write-up profiled her as 'Trump's Right-Hand Woman'. According to the New York Times, Hicks "has the most sway over who in the news media gets interviews with the president." Hicks reportedly has a very close relationship with Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner. Hicks makes the senior White House salary of $179,000, despite being one of the youngest in the White House. How did she get here?
Prior to working on the Trump campaign, Hicks had no political experience. As a teenager, she modeled for Ford and Ralph Lauren. 2012, she started working for PR firm Hiltzik Strategies as a consultant. There, one of the companies clients was Ivanka Trump and Hicks left to work directly for Ivanka's clothing line. After that, Hicks started working in various Trump-owned companies and started working for the Trump Organization as a full-time job.
When Trump announced his run for President, Hicks was alongside the campaign trail, serving as Trump's right-hand man, so it is no surprise she has been rewarded a senior staff position in the communications department. According to CNN, Hicks' primarily role is to "shape Trump messaging". Still, Hicks knows that at the end of the day, Trump will do whatever he wants. It is unclear how long Hicks will serve as an interim communications director.