Hope Hicks Resigning as White House Communications Director

Hope Hicks, longtime adviser to President Donald Trump, walks to her seat before the start of the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. (Photo: AP)

White House Communications Director Hope Hicks said Wednesday that she was resigning from her role in the Trump Administration after months of deliberation. Ms. Hicks, 29, is one of President Donald Trump’s longest-serving advisers.

The former model joined the 2016 presidential campaign without any political experience yet tightened up what was an often loose operation under her predecessors. Ms. Hicks said that she had “no words” to express her gratitude to the president, but didn’t specify as to what day would be her last.

“Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years,” President Trump said. “She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person. I will miss having her by my side, but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future.”

Ms. Hicks stepped in to replace Anthony Scaramucci as the head of the 40-person strong communications department. He resigned after only 10 full days on the job, a demand made by the then-new Chief of Staff General John F. Kelly.

“I quickly realized what so many have learned about Hope: She is strategic, poised and wise beyond her years,” General Kelly told The New York Times. “She became a trusted adviser and counselor, and did a tremendous job overseeing the communications for the president’s agenda including the passage of historic tax reform. She has served her country with great distinction. To say that she will be missed is an understatement.”

She was the fourth person to serve as communications director and lasted the longest — 196 days. Scaramucci took over the job that had been vacant since late May. Mike Dubke, rumored to have been a leaker, left after only 88 days on the job. Sean Spicer, the former White House Press Secretary, took over as acting communications director for 49 days before he resigned when Mr. Scaramucci was hired on July 21.