There’s a new communications director in town. Hope Hicks filled the position back in mid-August after the departure of Anthony Scaramucci. In her new, and temporary, position, she will work beside press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Sanders replaced Sean Spicer in late July after he left the administration.
It’s quite possible that you’ve never even heard of Hicks before. She’s been with Trump’s administration from the beginning, acting as director of strategic communications. But she has largely chosen to remain out of the spotlight that often falls on different members of the administration.
Prior to joining Trump’s campaign in 2016, Hicks had no political experience behind her, said Business Insider. Hicks actually received a degree in English from Southern Methodist University and “(fell) into the gig through a job at the Trump Organization.” As a teenager, she was an actress and model, posing for Ralph Lauren campaigns and book covers.
The 28-year-old is a close friend to Ivanka Trump and the Trump family, making her “like an extended family member,” according to Politico. She first met the Trumps in 2012 when she worked with Ivanka Trump’s clothing line through a public relations firm. Ivanka Trump then hired her and she became apart of the Trump Organization. Her background in PR lent itself well to a communications position. She appears to be the best at handling the tumultuous administration.
But the one thing that makes Hicks so special is that she has outlasted almost everyone in the White House. She’s seen the exits of several high-profile members within the first nine months of Trump’s presidency. This may be because she is so closely tied with the Trump family and remains out of the spotlight, many speculate. Business Insider notes that she often declined to comment on the campaign trail and didn’t allow access to then-candidate Trump.
While Hicks hasn’t caught the negative attention of the news yet, it’s never too late to do so in the Trump administration. But who knows. Maybe she’ll be the last one standing three years from now.
