Hope Hicks takes up Trump’s White House communications role

Meet the woman formally taking on two of the most powerful roles in Washington, 28-year-old Hope Hicks.

Hope Hicks attends a campaign rally at Madison City Schools Stadium. Picture: AP

She’s just 28-years-old and has been an aide of President Trump since “the beginning.” Meet the woman taking on one of the most powerful roles in Washington, Hope Hicks.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Tuesday that the 28-year old had formally taken on the roles of Assistant to the President and White House Communications Director.

Ms Hicks, the third person to hold the communications position, had been acting in the role since her predecessor Anthony Scaramucci was booted in July.

Hope Hicks. Picture: AFP

Hicks was born and raised in the wealthy suburbs of Connecticut, just outside New York, and attended a Southern Methodist university sometimes called a “Republican finishing school’’.

The former model and PR operative is regarded as one of the president’s most trusted advisers and is known for her close relationship with the Trump family.

She joined the Trump Organisation in 2014 to work for Ivanka Trump’s clothing line and started her career in politics as a spokeswoman during Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

Hope Hicks rarely gives interviews herself, although she is often there when the president is interviewed by journalists.

In May, she issued a rare statement to defend the president in response to a story that suggested Mr Trump belittles his staff in private.

“President Trump has a magnetic personality and exudes positive energy, which is infectious to those around him,” Ms Hicks said. “He is brilliant with a great sense of humour, and an amazing ability to make people feel special and aspire to be more than even they thought possible.”

Congrats to my brilliant, kind & wickedly funny friend Hope Hicks on being named to the @Forbes #30Under30 list! https://t.co/s3YO9Eq83Z

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) January 4, 2017

The 28-year-old who appeared in the Forbes ‘30 under 30’ list in January, will earn upwards of US$179,700 a year in her new position.

While Ms Hicks concedes she knew very little about politics prior to the Trump campaign, she has been described by former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort as someone who ‘totally understands’ the President.

Trump advisers Kellyanne Conway, left and Hope Hicks during President Trump’s inauguration ceremony. Picture: AFP

In recent weeks, Ms Hicks made headlines when she hired private lawyer, Robert Trout to represent her in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian interference in the 2016 US election.