Hope Hicks: who is the White House aide and former model who tested positive for coronavirus days before President Donald Trump

Hope Hicks has been a key member of President Trump's team since 2015 (Getty Images)

The news that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus shocked the world on Friday morning (2 October).

Mr Trump tweeted: “Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”

His last post prior to this revealed that key aide Hope Hicks had tested positive.

He wrote: “Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible! The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!”

The Trump campaign member had been in close quarters with the president and other key members of the campaign team prior to her positive diagnosis.

Who is Hope Hicks?

Ms Hicks was once the communications director at the White House, but now serves as a counsellor to the US President.

The 31-year-old first caught the eye of Mr Trump when working in public relations, with Ivanka Trump’s fashion brand, one of her key clients.

She first worked with Mr Trump as a PR for his real estate firm, with Trump labelling her work “outstanding”.

Ms Hicks fell into politics in 2015 when Mr Trump announced his intention to run for US president, even helping run his Twitter account.

As Mr Trump’s path towards the White House became more likely, Hicks was hired as a permanent member of his political campaign team.

Following his election in 2016 Hicks was named White House director of strategic communications.

Though a key figure in Mr Trump’s team, Hicks has made a habit of staying out of the public spotlight.

Ms Hicks left Mr Trump’s team in 2018 after admitting to congress that she told white lies on Mr Trump’s behalf, before returning earlier this year.

Prior to working in public relations Hicks worked as a model.

Who has Hope Hicks been in touch with while carrying coronavirus?

Ms Hicks first came down with coronavirus symptoms on Wednesday following a rally in Minnesota.

Prior to this she had regularly travelled on Air Force One and Marine One.

Social media director Dan Scavino and press secretary Kayleigh McEnany are among those who have been required to quarantine due to close contact with Ms Hicks.

In the past week she has been pictured in close contact with; President and Director of Oval Office Operations, Nicholas Luna; Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the President of the United States Jared Kushner; and Senior Advisor to the President Stephen Miller.

Ms Hicks was also present during the first debate and was spotted by reporters not wearing a protective face covering.

Ivanka, Eric, Donald Jr. and Tiffany Trump were also pictured not wearing face masks.