Is Hope Hicks next on the chopping block?
As one of President Donald Trump’s closest aides, Hicks has had one of the longest tenures in the Trump White House. But the President has reportedly become increasingly exasperated with his communications director in recent days for her handling of the White House’s response to allegations of domestic abuse against former aide Rob Porter, CNN reported Friday.
Sources familiar with the matter told CNN that Trump believes Hicks let her relationship with Porter — whom she recently reportedly became romantically involved with, according to CNN and CBS — muddle her judgement in drafting a statement in Porter’s defense when his ex-wives’ allegations of abuse became public Tuesday. According to CNN’s sources, Trump was not consulted when Hicks wrote the statement and he thinks the communications director put her own interests above his.
Trump is also reportedly “very disturbed” by the coverage of Porter’s alleged abuse and subsequent resignation and is becoming increasingly frustrated with Chief of Staff John Kelly for his handling of the situation.
On Tuesday, The Daily Mail first reported that both of Porter’s ex-wives — Jennifer Willoughby and Colbie Holderness — have accused him of domestic abuse. The White House and Kelly quickly released statements defending Porter and his character. After seeing the photos of Holderness’ black eye that she said she sustained when Porter punched her, Kelly backtracked and put out a statement calling the allegations “shocking.” Kelly is under fire for his botched response to the allegations and for reportedly having previous knowledge of the ex-wives’ allegations.
Trump has reportedly been asking aides what they think of Budget Director Mick Mulvaney in recent weeks, which aides think means he’s considering Mulvaney as a potential candidate for a new chief of staff, according to CNN.
Porter has denied the accusations and called them a “smear campaign,” but ultimately resigned on Wednesday.
It’s incredible to me that this is the thing that seems it might take down so many players. Trump’s been a rolling PR disaster for his entire administration. REMEMBER WHEN YOUR NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR PLED GUILTY TO LYING TO THE FBI? REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRED THE FBI DIRECTOR AND BULLSHITTED ALL OF THE BULLSHIT ABOUT IT? But this will be the straw that takes down Hicks and/or Kelly?
He’s jealous ?
Excuse me, but doesn’t Trump have to sign off on the security clearances that are supposed to be temporary? How is this not his fault ultimately? Shouldn’t he have asked why so many of his staff still have temporary clearances?
Time to prepare for Trump to say something perfectly disgusting about Hicks because that’s his way. Possibly about Porter’s exes as well. I have read that Hicks’s parents were concerned about her being in this job. If she were my kid I’d have her abducted and deprogrammed.
“Fully informed” Trump apparently never hears about the things happening right under his nose. Implausible denial again most likely operating here. Probably practicing “I don’t recall” with his lawyers at this very moment - during his “Executive Time” while watching Fox News and warming up his tweeting fingers.