Hope Hicks, one of President Donald Trump's most trusted and longest-serving aides, is returning to the White House as his 2020 re-election campaign moves into high gear.

Key points: Hope Hicks was one of Donald Trump's original 2016 campaign staffers who moved with him to Washington DC

Hope Hicks was one of Donald Trump's original 2016 campaign staffers who moved with him to Washington DC She served as White House communications director until she left in 2018

She served as White House communications director until she left in 2018 For the past two years, she's worked in a senior role for the pro-Trump Fox Corporation in California

Ms Hicks, who was one of Mr Trump's original 2016 campaign staffers and moved with him to Washington after he won, served as White House communications director before quitting the post in 2018.

Her new job will be as counsellor to the President, working with Mr Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, according to a person familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made public.

She will not be part of the White House communications department, but will work closely with Mr Kushner and White House political director Brian Jack "in a number of strategic areas", a White House official confirmed.

Ms Hicks is expected to start early next month, with details to be finalised.

Hope Hicks left her job at the White House in March. ( AP: Evan Vucci )

After leaving her former White House position, Ms Hicks moved to California, where she joined the Fox Corporation as executive vice president and chief communications officer.

The news of her appointment comes a week after Mr Trump was acquitted by the Senate on impeachment charges.

Ms Hicks did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hicks seen as key to Trump's 2016 success

Known for her loyalty and low public profile, Ms Hicks was part of the small inner circle that traversed the country with Mr Trump aboard his private jet as he waged his unlikely campaign for the Republican nomination and then the presidency in 2015 and 2016.

She was often described as someone who was especially deft at reading the President's moods and helping others navigate his instincts.

Her return came as Mr Trump's former personal aide John McEntee, who was removed in 2018, re-joined the White House to run the White House Presidential Personnel Office — an influential posting that coordinates the screening and hiring for thousands of federal government aides.

Former Trump aide John McEntee (right) will return to run the White House Presidential Personnel Office. ( AP: Andrew Harnik )

Mr McEntee began on the Trump campaign as an intern before rising to become one of his closest staffers in the White House, with an office adjacent to the Oval Office.

He was ousted two years ago on the orders of former chief of staff John Kelly, before being reinstated by Mr Trump two months ago.

AP