Hope Hicks, one of the closest aides of United States President Donald Trump, is resigning as the White House communications director.
Hicks, 29, is leaving the White House after serving Trump for three years in various capacities. This included being his campaign spokesperson and Director of Strategic Communication when Trump was sworn in as the president on January 20, 2017.
The announcement of her resignation came a day after she testified before the House Intelligence Committee on allegations related to the Russian interference during the 2016 presidential campaign.
The White House did not announce her exact day of resignation.
"Her departure is to be determined but it will be sometime in the next few weeks," it said.
Hicks is Trump's longest serving aide, having worked with him before he announced his candidacy, through the campaign, and into the second year of his administration.
After three years, she approached Trump and told him she wanted to leave so she could start exploring opportunities outside of the White House.
On his part, Trump was effusive in his praise for Hicks.
"Hope (Hicks) 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," Trump said.
"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," he said. -- PTI