Hope Hicks began her political career at just 26 years old, with no previous experience, when she was hired by Donald J. Trump for his presidential campaign in 2015. Over the years, she became one of his most trusted advisers, eventually rising to the position of White House communications director. However, their relationship turned sour in 2022 when text messages surfaced showing that Hicks had been critical of Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack by his supporters. Since then, the two have not spoken, and Hicks has now taken the stand in Trump’s hush-money trial in a Manhattan courtroom.
Ms. Hicks, now 35, met with prosecutors in the Manhattan district attorney’s office in March 2023 regarding the case. She was the Trump campaign’s press secretary during the final stages of the 2016 campaign when prosecutors allege that Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, paid off a porn star named Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. Documents released by federal prosecutors in 2019 show that Hicks was involved in phone calls, text messages, and emails with Cohen and others in the days leading up to the payment.
During her testimony in court, Hicks revealed that she was concerned after receiving an email from The Washington Post containing a transcript of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape in which Trump bragged about groping women. She expressed her concern about the lack of time to respond and the absence of an actual tape. Hicks also mentioned an email she had sent, emphasizing the need to “deny, deny, deny,” which she described as a reflex.
Throughout her career, Hicks has remained fiercely loyal to Trump, vehemently defending him against any allegations. Her understanding of Trump’s personality and preferences, such as knowing not to bother him during a major golf tournament, was acknowledged by former campaign manager Paul Manafort. Hicks worked for the Trump Organization before her role in the campaign, later moving to Fox News before returning to work at the White House and eventually becoming a communications consultant.
Hicks’ involvement in the hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, another woman who alleged an affair with Trump, has been highlighted in the trial as prosecutors seek to establish her visibility into the events of late 2016. She cooperated with authorities in their investigation of the case and has now found herself on the witness stand, providing insights into her interactions with key individuals involved in the controversial payments. The trial continues to shed light on the inner workings and dynamics of the Trump campaign during a tumultuous period.
