Tipsheet

Will This Woman Be the Next White House Communications Director?

Now that Hope Hicks has officially announced she will be leaving her position as White House Communications Director, rumors are swirling in Washington D.C. about who will replace her. 

The name at the top of the list? White House Director of Strategic Communications Mercedes Schlapp. 

According to her husband and Chairman of the American Conservative Union Matt Schlapp, she's open to the idea.

"She loves her job. She's challenged by her job. The president is respectful to her. She loves the environment in which she works. She's having a blast even though it is awfully tough. And when she comes home at night, I give her a cocktail. That's my job," Schlapp told MSNBC's Hallie Jackson. "She's going to be very open to anything the president wants her to do."

Schlapp joined the administration last fall. She appears on television often to field questions about administration policies in addition to working behind the scenes on messaging. Previously, she worked as a contributor for Fox News and is the co-founder of Cove Strategies. She served in the George W. Bush administration as the director of specialty media. 

An exit date for Hicks has not been announced, but is expected in the coming weeks.