Hope Hicks, former communications director for Donald Trump, testified in his criminal trial about how they handled news reports of extramarital encounters and hush money payments before the election. Hicks was not aware of the payments to Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels until a reporter’s inquiry in 2016. She also recounted her reaction to the release of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape just before the election, where Trump made inappropriate comments about women. The fallout from the tape led to payments to Daniels and McDougal, which Trump denies.
Hicks described her role in the Trump campaign and how she first became aware of the “Access Hollywood” tape. She and other campaign officials crafted a response to the tape’s release, downplaying it as “locker room banter.” Prominent Republicans denounced Trump over the tape, causing concern within the campaign. Hicks also recalled learning about the payments to McDougal and Daniels and working with Cohen and Pecker to address media inquiries. Trump was concerned about the impact on his campaign and wanted to deny the allegations.
Moving to 2018, Hicks recounted her time as White House communications director and how she learned of the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. Trump told Hicks that Cohen made the payment to protect him from false allegations, which Trump appreciated. Hicks testified that Trump was concerned about how the story would impact his standing with voters and wanted to address it before the election. She also described Trump’s loyalty to Cohen, despite his character not being known for generosity.
During cross-examination, Hicks revealed that Cohen often did frustrating things for the campaign, despite portraying himself as a “fixer.” Trump frequently engaged with the media during the campaign, although he felt the coverage was unfair. Hicks testified that Trump valued Melania Trump’s opinion and was concerned about how negative stories would be viewed at home. Hicks concluded her emotional testimony, where she teared up, and was excused from the stand.
In summary, Hope Hicks testified about her experiences working for Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign and his presidency. She detailed how they handled news reports of extramarital encounters, hush money payments, and the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape. Hicks portrayed Trump as concerned about his image and standing with voters, leading to decisions to suppress negative stories. Her testimony shed light on the inner workings of the Trump campaign and White House during tumultuous times.
