On Tuesday, White House communications director Hope Hicks told House investigators her job sometimes requires her to lie and refused to answer questions about her time in the Trump administration. One day later, the longtime Trump aide has announced she is leaving the White House, reportedly in the next few weeks.
“There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump,” Hicks said in a statement. “I wish the president and his administration the very best as he continues to lead our country.”
The New York Times first reported Hicks’ departure. Both Trump and chief of staff John Kelly offered effusive praise for Hicks Wednesday: Trump called her “as smart and thoughtful as they come” and “a truly great person,” while Kelly called her “strategic, poised, and wise beyond her years.”
“I will miss having her by my side, but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood,” Trump said in a statement to the Times. “I am sure we will work together in the future.”
Hicks’ resignation came as a shock to many, as the reclusive aide has long been seen as a pillar of stability in the turbulent Trump administration. Her work with Trump predated even his decision to run for president, and she outlasted many of the president’s more visible senior aides, including Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus, Sean Spicer, and Anthony Scaramucci.
