You probably remember her as the silent, polished presence standing just behind the chaos of the 2016 campaign trail. For years, Hope Hicks was basically the "untouchable" gatekeeper for Donald Trump. She was the one taking dictation for his most viral tweets and navigating the shark-infested waters of the West Wing. But then, she kinda vanished from the daily headlines.
So, what is Hope Hicks doing now in 2026?
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Honestly, she's swapped the West Wing for a C-suite in the private sector. As of late 2025 and moving into 2026, Hicks has taken on a massive role as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Devil May Care Media. This is the media company founded by Megyn Kelly, which represents a pretty fascinating pivot for someone who spent years at the center of the Republican political machine.
The Big Career Pivot: From Politics to Media Mogul
If you’ve been looking for Hicks in a political war room lately, you’re looking in the wrong place. Her move to Megyn Kelly's company in July 2025 marked a definitive shift. Kelly herself announced the hire, calling Hicks "strong, smart, and strategic."
Essentially, Hicks is now the heavy hitter running the business side of a growing conservative media empire. Her job involves overseeing business development for The Megyn Kelly Show and AM Update. It’s a far cry from dodging subpoenas or testifying in high-profile criminal trials.
Interestingly, this isn't her first time in the corporate world. People often forget that between her stints at the White House, she spent two years at Fox Corporation as the Chief Communications Officer and Executive Vice President. She was making over $1.8 million a year back then. It seems she's found her stride in the intersection of media and business strategy rather than returning to the campaign trail for 2024 or 2026.
Why Hope Hicks Mattered (And Still Does)
To understand her current status, you have to look at how she got here. Most 26-year-olds are lucky if they’re managing a small team at a PR firm. Hicks was managing the press for a future President.
- She started with Hiltzik Strategies, working on Ivanka Trump’s fashion line.
- By 2014, she was full-time with the Trump Organization.
- By 2015, she was the campaign press secretary despite having zero political experience.
She was famously the "one-woman press team" for a campaign that broke every rule in the book. This gave her a level of crisis management experience that is basically impossible to replicate.
The Trial Testimony That Changed Everything
We can't talk about what she’s doing now without mentioning the emotional toll of the last few years. In May 2024, Hicks was a key witness in Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York.
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It was a heavy moment.
She was the first member of the inner circle to testify, and at one point, she actually broke down in tears on the stand. She described the "Access Hollywood" tape as a "damaging development" and detailed the sheer chaos inside the 2016 campaign. Even though she spoke about her former boss in glowing terms initially—calling him a "hard worker"—the fact that she was testifying for the prosecution signaled a major distance between her and the Trump world.
A New Life in 2026: Engagement and "Normalcy"
Away from the office and the courtrooms, Hicks is also entering a new chapter in her personal life. In May 2024, news broke that she got engaged to Jim Donovan, a high-level Goldman Sachs investment banker.
This move toward a more "traditional" high-society life in New York and the corporate world aligns with her recent career choices. She’s moved past the days of Jan. 6, where she famously texted that the events of that day made everyone in the administration "unemployable."
Guess what? She wasn't unemployable.
She proved herself wrong. While she once worried that she’d be limited to "speaking engagements at the local Proud Boys chapter," she instead landed a top-tier executive role.
Actionable Insights for Following Her Career
If you’re tracking the trajectory of former political insiders, Hicks is the gold standard for how to "exit" the political sphere and enter the private sector without losing influence.
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- Watch the Media Landscape: Keep an eye on Devil May Care Media’s expansion. As COO, Hicks will likely be the architect behind any new shows or platform moves for Megyn Kelly.
- The "Silent Influence" Factor: Hicks rarely gives interviews herself. To understand her impact, you have to look at the branding and business growth of the companies she joins.
- Legal Legacy: While she’s in the private sector now, her past testimony remains a matter of public record that continues to shape the legal narrative surrounding the Trump era.
The takeaway? Hope Hicks isn't just "some former aide" anymore. She’s a media executive who has successfully navigated one of the most polarizing periods in American history to land on her feet in 2026.