Former White House Press Secretary Hope Hicks Cries In Emotional Testimony Against Former Boss Donald Trump

On Friday, former White House press secretary and director of communications Hope Hicks delivered a powerful testimony against former President Donald Trump. On the third week of Trump’s Manhattan hush-money trial, Hicks became a key witness. The announcement of Hicks’ appearance stirred a whispers in the courtroom.

Hicks, 35, sat in the witness box and kept her eyes away from Trump. Not once did she look at her former boss, and she went into detail about his numerous scandals. Trump himself appeared indifferent during Hicks’ testimony, though the former president was seen whispering to his lawyer Todd Blanche.

Hicks was visibly nervous on the stand but still delivered a concise, three-hour testimony. She spoke positively about her career in the White House, praising the Trump family, before moving into Trump’s legal issues. Hicks discussed Trump’s infamous Access Hollywood clip where he talked about grabbing women’s genitals and the Stormy Daniels hush-money situation.

Hicks also mentioned Sen. Mitt Romney‘s (R-Utah) outrage at the situation. In April, Romney mocked Trump’s denial of his affair with Daniels, stating, “You don’t pay someone $130,000 not to have sex with you.”

Hicks has not spoken to Trump in two years. She left the White House six days after the January 6 Capitol riot. Hicks claimed this had been planned for some time. However, Hicks’ leaked messages obtained after Trump lost the 2020 election show she held some level of contempt for her former boss.

Trump previously told Hicks, who was concerned about his public image, “Nobody will care about my legacy if I lose. So, that won’t matter. The only thing that matters is winning.”

During cross-examination, Hicks began to tear up at the end of her testimony, eventually breaking down in tears. The judge called for a brief break, but Hicks had already conveyed her side of the story.

“I think Mr. Trump’s opinion was it was better to be dealing with it now, and it would’ve been bad to have that story come out before the election,” Hicks said about the hush-money incident.

Friday concluded the third week and marked the 11th day of Trump’s trials.