Trumplandia: Hope Hicks, Age 28, Is A Loyalist Who Let's Trump Be Trump | In Arizona, Ward Tells Sen. John McCain To Step Aside For Her

Donald Trump loyalist Hope Hicks

Trumplandia: Hope Hicks, Age 28, Is A Loyalist Who Let's Trump Be Trump | In Arizona, Ward Tells Sen. John McCain To Step Aside For Her

In the White House world of rival power centers, 28-year-old Hope Hicks reports directly to the president. Hicks pulls down the same salary as Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon -- $179,000 -- and keeps a low profile. Hicks is devoted to the advancement of Donald Trump. He calls her Hopester and she calls him Mr. Trump. Hope Hicks views her job, ultimately, as "someone who is installed where she is in order to help, but not change, the leader of the free world."

Previously flying under the radar, Hicks was at the president's side this week, during his explosive interview with the New York Times. In a series of bombshell statements, Trump said he wished he had never hired Attorney General Jeff Sessions given his recusal from the Russia investigation. He left open firing special counsel Robert Mueller, especially if he investigated Trump's business affairs. 

Hicks also may be one of the only long-term survivors with the arrival of incoming communications director Anthony Scaramucci who said on his first press briefing on Friday, "Dan [Scavino] and Hope Hicks are staying. As it relates to the other people in the comms shop, I’ve got to get to know them.”