WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- White House Communications Director Hope Hicks said Wednesday that she is resigning, becoming the third person to leave the post during Trump's tenure.
"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.
The announcement came one day after Hicks testified in front of Congress on Russia's alleged interference with the 2016 presidential elections, during which she said she had told "white lies" while working for the administration.
As Hicks announced her departure, U.S. President Donald Trump and other senior White House officials showered her with praises.
"Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years. She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person. I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future," Trump said in a statement.
John Kelly, the White House Chief of Staff, said Hicks was "strategic, poised and wise beyond her years," add that she has done a "tremendous job" .
Hicks, Trump's longest serving aid, has been working under Trump for three years since before he announced his candidacy for Presidency. She entered Trump's team as a communications aide, and gradually evolved into one of Trump's most trusted advisors.
It has been reportedly that the 29-year-old Hicks had considered resigning for months, saying she wanted to explore opportunities outside of the White House.
She was raised to the role after former communications director Scaramucci resigned last summer. It is expected that she will leave the White House in the next few weeks.
The Deputy White House communications director Josh Raffel has announced his resignation a day earlier.
