At just 26 years old and with no prior political experience, Hope Hicks was handpicked by Donald J. Trump from a position at his daughter Ivanka’s clothing business to join his presidential campaign in 2015.
Over the years, she became one of his closest advisers, eventually serving as the White House communications director. However, their relationship soured in 2022 when text messages surfaced during a House investigation into Trump’s attempts to retain power after losing the election, revealing Hicks’ criticism of him following the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
Since then, they have not communicated.
Now 35, Hicks has testified in Trump’s hush-money trial in Lower Manhattan. She previously met with prosecutors regarding the case in March 2023, having served as the Trump campaign’s press secretary during the final stages of the 2016 campaign.
Documents released by federal prosecutors in 2019 show Hicks’ involvement in phone calls, text messages, and emails with Michael Cohen and David Pecker in the days leading up to the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, a porn star central to the case.
During her testimony, Hicks discussed an email she received from The Washington Post about the “Access Hollywood” tape in October 2016, where Trump boasted about groping women. She expressed concern over the contents of the email and the lack of time to respond.
She was shown an email she sent stating the “need to hear the tape” and “Deny, deny, deny.” Hicks described the latter as a reflex.
Having spent most of her career alongside Trump, Hicks worked for the Trump Organization before becoming campaign press secretary. She later worked at the White House, Fox News, and now as a communications consultant.
She staunchly defended Trump, even denying knowledge of another hush-money payment just before the 2016 election. Paul Manafort praised Hicks for understanding how to work with Trump, noting her ability to navigate his temperament.
