Before her sudden resignation announcement, soon-to-be-former White House communications director Hope Hicks was berated by President Trump for admitting to Congress she told “white lies” for him, CNN reported on Wednesday.
The president got angry at Hicks after learning she made the revelation Tuesday to the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Russia’s meddling into the 2016 election, a Trump ally told CNN.
A livid Trump demanded to know “how she could be that stupid” to admit she lies for the president, the report said.
Hicks, who has been by Trump’s side since the start of his presidential campaign, then suddenly announced Wednesday she would resign.
White House spokesman Hogan Gidley pushed back at CNN on Wednesday night, saying the report that Trump berated Hicks was “false.”
The New York Times first reported on Tuesday night that Hicks used the term “white lies” to explain her work as communications director.
However, during more than eight hours of testimony, Hicks insisted she never lied to investigators regarding the Russia probe.