President Trump reportedly berated former White House communications director Hope Hicks the day before her resignation, according to a new report.
CNN’s Erin Burnett reported Wednesday that Trump was angry with Hicks following her closed-door testimony to the House Intelligence Committee, in which she reportedly revealed she was sometimes required to tell “white lies” as part of her work in the White House.
Burnett reported one of Trump’s “close allies” told CNN that Trump asked Hicks after her testimony “how she could be so stupid.”
“Apparently, that was the final straw for Hope Hicks,” Burnett said.
Hicks, one of Trump’s closest advisers, announced her resignation from the White House Wednesday.
{mosads}”There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to President Trump. I wish the president and his administration the very best as he continues to lead our country,” Hicks said in a statement announcing her departure.
The 29-year-old has served as a top adviser to Trump since he launched his presidential campaign in 2015.
Hicks has set no departure date but is expected to leave the White House in the next few weeks, White House officials said.
Her departure comes one day after her lengthy interview with the House Intelligence panel as part of its investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
During her testimony, Hicks refused to answer questions about events that happened during the presidential transition and after Trump took office.
She also reportedly admitted that her job in the Trump administration required her to tell “white lies,” although she denied that she lied about anything relevant to the investigation into Russian election interference.