Hope Hicks To Resign As White House Communications Director
Hope Hicks
Updated at 7:08 p.m.  ET
White House communications director Hope Hicks  President Trump's longest-serving aide   is resigning and will depart in the next few weeks  the White House says.
In a White House that has set records for staff turnover (and it isn't even close)  the departure of  Hicks  still came as a shock.
Hicks  who has been working with the president for three years  managed to stay in his orbit even after many others had been pushed out. President Trump called  Hicks  "outstanding."
Earlier this month  Hicks  was deeply involved in the White House's botched handling of domestic abuse allegations against a former top aide to the president. But a White House official insists  Hicks ' decision to resign wasn't related to either of those matters.
Another person close to  Hicks  told NPR the resignation has been in the works for weeks.
"There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump "  Hicks  said in the statement. "I wish the President and his administration the very best as he continues to lead our country."
 Hicks  joined the Trump organization in 2014 — recruited by Ivanka Trump  who was impressed by work  Hicks  had done for her clothing line while working at a New York public relations firm.  Hicks  was then pulled into the Trump campaign before there even was a campaign  becoming de facto press secretary while initially she continued doing work for the Trump Organization.
Updated at 7:08 p.m.  ET
White House communications director [TGT]  President Trump's longest-serving aide   is resigning and will depart in the next few weeks  the White House says.
In a White House that has set records for staff turnover (and it isn't even close)  the departure of  Hicks  still came as a shock.
Hicks  who has been working with the president for three years  managed to stay in his orbit even after many others had been pushed out. President Trump called  Hicks  "outstanding."
Earlier this month  Hicks  was deeply involved in the White House's botched handling of domestic abuse allegations against a former top aide to the president. But a White House official insists  Hicks ' decision to resign wasn't related to either of those matters.
Another person close to  Hicks  told NPR the resignation has been in the works for weeks.
"There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump "  Hicks  said in the statement. "I wish the President and his administration the very best as he continues to lead our country."
 Hicks  joined the Trump organization in 2014 — recruited by Ivanka Trump  who was impressed by work  Hicks  had done for her clothing line while working at a New York public relations firm.  Hicks  was then pulled into the Trump campaign before there even was a campaign  becoming de facto press secretary while initially she continued doing work for the Trump Organization.