Hope Hicks has been named the interim White House communications director, taking on an expanded comms role while the White House searches for a new communications director to replace Anthony Scaramucci, who was fired less than a week after taking over the role.
A White House official told Washington Post that an announcement on a permanent replacement will be made at an “appropriate time.”
Hicks currently serves as the president’s director of strategic communications, and is Trump’s longest-serving political aide. She is also considered one of the president’s most loyal and trusted confidants.
The Post reports:
In many ways, Hope’s elevated role is just a continuation of a job she has already largely been doing behind the scenes. During the transition, Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, advocated for Hicks to get the press secretary job, though at the time both Trump and Hicks herself thought she wasn’t ready, according to someone with knowledge of the discussions. Hicks has previously been mentioned for the role of communications director, and has long unofficially served in that role for the president himself.
The 28-year-old Hicks has been been employed by Trump Organization full-time since August 2014, first working for Ivanka Trump inside Trump Tower. Pres. Trump named Hicks his press secretary in January 2015 when planning for his presidential run.