Hope Hicks spotted boarding Air Force One ahead of Trump rally

Former White House communications director Hope Hicks was seen boarding Air Force One on Saturday.

A White House pool report stated that Hicks was among those who boarded the plane in Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey to travel with President Trump for Saturday evening’s campaign rally in Ohio.

It’s unclear why Hicks was on the plane, or if she was meeting with the president.{mosads}

Hicks briefly spoke with media traveling with the president off the record after Trump’s rally, according to a later pool report.

SPOTTED at Morristown, NJ airport ahead of Air Force One departure for Trump’s Ohio rally: Hope Hicks pic.twitter.com/eZgvASvfwj

— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) August 4, 2018

Hicks, who was one of Trump’s longest-standing and most loyal aides, announced her departure from the administration in February. She said she was exploring other opportunities, according to White House officials.

Hicks faced scrutiny for reportedly saying during her testimony before the House Intelligence Committee that her job occasionally meant she had to tell “white lies,” as well as for her relationship with former White House staff secretary Rob Porter.

Porter resigned after his ex-wives said he was abusive toward them, and a photo of one wife’s bruised face was made public.

Hicks, who was dating Porter at the time, reportedly helped craft the initial public statements supporting the aide.

— This post was updated at 10:48 p.m.