Mercedes Schlapp – a first generation Cuban immigrant and NRA board member – is tipped to replace Hope Hicks as President Donald Trump’s fifth communications director.
The 45 year old is currently the White House director of strategic communications, but she could be looking at a promotion since Hicks resigned on Wednesday.
If offered the position, she would be the Trump administration’s fifth communications director, following Hicks, Anthony Scaramuchi, Mike Dubke and Sean Spicer.
Schlapp’s husband told MSNBC on Thursday that his wife would be interested in the role after working for the White House since September 2017.
The Miami native is a first generation Cuban immigrant whose father was jailed for six years as a political prisoner during the Castro regime.
Mercedes Schlapp (left) could replace Hope Hicks as President Trump’s new communications director. She would be the fifth since the start of his presidency. Schlapp has worked for the White House since September 2017 as the director of strategic communications. She is pictured with Kellyanne Conway, above
Schlapp is married to Matt Schlapp. They have five children together and live in Virginia. The Miami Native is a first generation Cuban immigrant
White House chief of staff John Kelly is said to be looking at Schlapp as Hicks’ replacement after she leaves in the coming weeks, according to Politico.
Hicks, 29, announced on Wednesday she would resign as communications director, just one day after she was interviewed by the House Intelligence Committee.
She reportedly admitted to telling ‘white lies’ for the president during the meeting.
After she met with the committee, President Trump allegedly ‘berated’ her about her interview and asked ‘how could you be so stupid?’
Schlapp’s father (pictured) was a freedom fighter during Fidel Castro’s regime. He was in jail for six years as a political prisoner
Investigators for the special counsel organized by Robert Mueller asked Hicks about a comment she made to The New York Times two days after the 2016 election.
‘We are not aware of any campaign representatives that were in touch with any foreign entities before yesterday, when Mr. Trump spoke with many world leaders,’ Hicks said at the time.
A former Trump campaign official who was asked about Hicks’ 2016 comment said it has come up with Mueller’s team as well as with House and Senate Intelligence Committees, according to CNN.
Trump praised his loyal right-hand woman whom he often referred to as ‘Hopester’ in a statement released on Wednesday evening after she resigned.
‘Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years,’ he said. ‘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.’
This resignation comes after the former model was thrust into the spotlight when Dailymail.com revealed her then-boyfriend Rob Porter was accused by his two ex-wives of abusing them.
Hicks said in a statement on Wednesday: ‘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.’
Schlapp reportedly supports the NRA and was added to the organization’s board of directors in 2015. It is unclear if she is still on the board. Pictured is her with her husband in February
White House chief of staff John Kelly will be deciding who becomes the next communications director. The staff at the White House reportedly love Schlapp and think she makes the administration run smoother
The White House has yet to release Hicks the date of last day, but it is expected to be in the next couple of weeks while they scramble to find a replacement.
Schlapp, who holds the job Hicks had before she was promoted, could be the next person to take the position.
She previously worked on political campaigns, including President George W. Bush’s in 2000 and 2004, before being hired as the director of specialty media for the Bush administration.
While on the job, Schlapp met her husband, Matt Schlapp, who was working as the administration’s political director.
She then moved on to other jobs including providing commentary for MSNBC, CNN, PBS and Spanish media outlets.
The senior adviser, whose husband chairs the American Conservative Union, is well known in DC working as a consultant for her public affairs firm Cove Strategies.
Schlapp left her job as a commentator for Fox News for the White House position but previously courted Trump’s admiration by using her slot to defend him and his policies.
Speaking in 2016 at CPAC, a conference hosted by the ACU, Trump said: ‘I want to thank Matt Schlapp and his very, very incredible wife and boss, Mercedes.
‘When I watch them on television defending me, nobody has a chance.’
As well as defending the now-President, Schlapp has also been a vocal proponent of ‘religious freedom’ laws designed to allow businesses to refuse to carry out tasks that contradict their beliefs.
The laws were brought in several states after high-profile cases involving Christian bakers being forced to make cakes for same-sex weddings.
She also became a member of the NRA’s Board of Directors in 2015. But it is unclear if she is still a member because her name is no longer listed on the organization’s website.
Hope’s hair floats: Hope Hicks was seen exiting her Washington DC apartment on Friday (above) wearing $695 suede knee-high boots and a $328 Joie dress despite the wet conditions
Hope Hicks, the ultimate Trump right-hand woman, was reportedly berated by the president after she admitted to telling ‘white lies’ for Donald Trump during her testimony to the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday. She resigned on Wednesday
Investigators for special counsel Robert Mueller asked Hicks about a comment she made The New York Times two days after the 2016 election, according to CNN
Hope Hicks was thrust into the spotlight this year when DailyMail.com reported that the two ex-wives of her then-boyfriend Rob Porter (right), who was serving as Trump’s staff secretary, had accused him of spousal abuse
Matt Schlapp told MSNBC on Wednesday that his wife ‘loves her job’ at the White House and does not know who might fill Hicks position.
‘She’s going to be very open to anything the president wants her to do,’ Schlapp said to the news organization. ‘Both she and I have been supporters of the president. We like his agenda, and we’re proud of what he’s doing.’
Schlapp has brought her leadership to the White House and is reportedly very popular among the staff.
‘Mercedes has been a godsend,’ said a White House official to CNN in February.
‘Every time there is a void because there is some craziness going on, Mercy’s always there to be the leader of the team.
‘Otherwise, we’d all be chickens with our heads cut off, just running around rudderless.’
Hicks, the president’s communications director, was among his longest-serving aides and seen as extraordinarily loyal
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders also paid tribute to Hicks on Twitter
Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, who’s spoken glowingly about Hicks, also used Twitter to say goodbye. Conway was the president’s final campaign manager while Hicks was serving as the campaign’s press secretary
Schlapp’s interest in politics and ability to lead were inspired by her father, Jose, who was a political prisoner during the Castro regime in Cuba.
He was imprisoned by the government for six years after he became vocal against Fidel Castro.
‘He taught me since I was a little girl to always fight to protect America’s freedom and democracy,’ she said in 2016 in an interview with The Hill.
‘I felt I was called to do something bigger, greater than myself, and that’s what drew me to Washington.’
Her father was outspoken and critical of Castrol, which influenced him to become a freedom fighter and ultimately be thrown in jail.
Besides Schlapp, Kelly is also considering appointing the communications director position to someone outside the White House, according to Politico.