There’s a new name in the White House, Hope Hicks, and she’s been promoted to communications director following the tumultuous 10-day tenure of Anthony Scaramucci.
But Hicks isn’t actually new in the White House, the 28-year-old former model joined Trump back on the campaign trail and is considered on of a few staffers whose jobs are truly safe in the White House.
So, who is Hope Hicks and how has she been able to rise to one of the most powerful positions in the White House where others have failed?
Picking up on a subtle change in job descriptions on Hicks Twitter bio, The Daily Caller predicted her rise to communications director, but following the upheaval after Scarramucci’s unceremonious firing, most media reports are speculating it could be just on an interim basis.
The White House seemed to verify this position on Wednesday, saying “Hope Hicks will work with White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and all of the communications team and serve as the interim White House communications director. We will make an announcement on a permanent communications director at the appropriate time.”
Hope Hicks before communications director
Prior to the news that Hicks earned the top position in Trump’s communications department, Hope Hicks was serving as his director of strategic communications.
Hope Hicks is a Trump loyalist
Hope Hicks has been a longtime Trump family advocate.
After graduating from Southing Methodist University, Hicks was assigned to managing Trump’s accounts at her first job at a New York PR firm. She ended up working for Ivanka Trump’s fashion line in PR before Trump named her his presidential campaign press secretary.
The job was a natural fit for Hicks, who comes from a family of talkers — her father was a communications official for the NFL and is now a managing partner of a PR firm. Her mother is also in the field.
Hope Hicks is well paid
According to financial disclosure statements, Hicks earned good money as Trump’s campaign secretary.
She earned $141,417 as a communications consultant for Donald Trump for president, as well as $71,689 as communications director for the Trump Organization, and $21,830 working for Trump for America.
Hope Hicks is all about Trump
Hope Hicks has said she is enamored with the president’s “magnetic personality.”
“President Trump has a magnetic personality and exudes positive energy, which is infectious to those around him,” the statement said. “He has an unparalleled ability to communicate with people, whether he is speaking to a room of three or an arena of 30,000. He has built great relationships throughout his life and treats everyone with respect. He is brilliant with a great sense of humor . . . and an amazing ability to make people feel special and aspire to be more than even they thought possible.”
Hope Hicks growing up
Hope Hicks grew up in the affluent New York City suburb of Greenwich, Connecticut, according to a profile on the prominent Trump staffer in Town and Country.
Growing up, Hicks was co-captain of the lacrosse team at her high school and played the sport throughout college.
She also nurtured a modeling career early on.
“At 11, she and her sister were hired for a Ralph Lauren campaign. She was also tapped as the face of the Hourglass Adventures, a series of novels about a time-traveling 10-year-old.” She also had a Guiding Light cameo, according to Town and Country magazine.
