Who is Hope Hicks? Donald Trump's senior aide who got coronavirus before President tested positive

Advisor Hope Hicks, Donald Trump and the first lady have Covid-19
REUTERS
Ellena Cruse2 October 2020

A senior aide to Donald Trump tested positive for coronavirus shortly before the US President and First Lady confirmed they had contracted Covid-19.

Hope Hicks, 31, became the President's closest aide to be confirmed to have the virus so far.

Mr Trump and Melania later tested positive for the strain.

Let's take a look at who Ms Hicks is and what he does for the White House.

Hope Hicks, counsellor to US President Donald Trump
AFP via Getty Images

Who is Hope Hicks?

Ms Hicks serves as senior counsellor to the president. She returned to the White House in February this year two years after resigning as communications director. Her resignation came after she admitted to Congress she occasionally told white lies on Mr Trump's behalf, although at the time the two were not directly linked.

She first started working for him in 2014 and stayed by his side throughout his campaign and into the Presidency.

She has travelled with the President multiple times this week.

Ms Hicks flew aboard Air Force One to Tuesday night’s first presidential debate against Joe Biden and on Marine One, the presidential helicopter, for a Minnesota rally on Wednesday.

Hope Hicks (centre) cheering at a Republican rally
AP

She tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.

Taking to Twitter Mr Trump said: "Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible!

“The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!”

The president later confirmed he and his wife also had the virus.

He said: "Tonight, @Flotus and I tested positive for COVID-19.

"We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!"

Which other staff members have tested positive?

Multiple White House staffers have tested positive for the virus, including Katie Miller, Vice President Mike Pence ’s press secretary, as well as one of the President’s personal valets.

Since Covid-19 emerged earlier this year, Mr Trump, the White House and his campaign have played down the threat and refused to abide by basic public health guidelines — including those issued by his own administration — such as wearing masks in public and practising social distancing.

Instead, Mr Trump has continued to hold campaign rallies that draw thousands of supporters despite the strain having killed more than 200,000 Americans and infected more than seven million nationwide.

In a statement, White House spokesman Judd Deere said: “The president takes the health and safety of himself and everyone who works in support of him and the American people very seriously.”

“White House Operations collaborates with the physician to the president and the White House Military Office to ensure all plans and procedures incorporate current CDC guidance and best practices for limiting Covid-19 exposure to the greatest extent possible both on complex and when the president is travelling,” he added.

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