Hope Hicks to become Fox chief communications officer

Former White House communications director Hope Hicks is joining Fox as its chief communications officer. 

The media company made the announcement on Monday, saying that Hicks will be based in Los Angeles.

{mosads}Fox, the company to be spun off as part of 21st Century Fox’s merger with Disney, also announced the hiring of Danny O’Brien, who is slated to become head of government relations.

“Hope and Danny are proven leaders and world-class public affairs professionals,” Viet Dinh, Fox chief legal and policy officer, said in a statement. “Together they will define and project FOX’s voice to our relevant communities.”

Hicks resigned from the White House in February after facing scrutiny for testimony in front of the House Intelligence Committee in which she said she occasionally told “white lies” while working for President Trump. 

Hicks was one of Trump’s longest-serving and closest aides before leaving the White House. She previously worked for the Trump Organization and joined Trump’s campaign when he launched it in 2015.

Before the announcement on Monday, speculation had swirled about whether Hicks would rejoin Trump’s orbit in some capacity.

In early August, it was reported that several members of the administration were privately pushing for her to join Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign.

Hicks will start in her new position once Disney closes its acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets. She will lead public relations of the remaining Fox assets.

The new Fox will include Fox News, Fox Sports, the Fox network and TV stations. Lachlan Murdoch, son of conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch, will be its chairman and chief executive.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a tweet that Fox is “beyond lucky,” adding that there is no one “smarter or more talented” than Hicks.

FOX won’t find anyone smarter or more talented than Hope Hicks. So happy for my friend. They are beyond lucky to have you and the East Coast misses you already. https://t.co/mUQUlip5oc

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) October 8, 2018

–Updated at 12:02 p.m.