Trump aide Hope Hicks to be interim White House communications director

Hicks is already considered one of the most important people in the president’s communications orbit and has the most sway over who in the media gets interviews with the president.

US President Donald Trump’s longtime aide Hope Hicks will serve as the interim White House director of communications and will help the president find a permanent person for the job, the administration said Wednesday.

File photo of Hope Hicks in New York. (AP)

However temporary it is, it was the latest reshuffling in the White House and comes at a time when the president’s remarks on white supremacists were drawing fire from Democrats and Republicans. The role of communications director is to set a clear and direct message coming from the White House each day.

Hicks, 28, already is considered one of the most important people in the president’s communications orbit and has the most sway over who in the media gets interviews with the president. Her current title is director of strategic communications.

Hicks was a spokeswoman for Trump during his presidential campaign and at the Trump Organization. She is close to Trump, his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, and daughter Ivanka.

Hicks will temporarily fill the vacancy left by Anthony Scaramucci. Unlike Scaramucci, who kept a high profile during his 10 days in the position, Hicks has long been a hidden hand, staying behind the scenes and outlasting other administration staff members.

She knows Trump’s rhythms, and he views her as one of the few people around him truly looking out for his interests, not tending her own image.

Hicks is also keenly aware that Trump is, ultimately, his own communications director.