The White House communications director, Hope Hicks, acknowledged on Tuesday that she had told "white lies" on behalf of President Donald Trump.

Hicks made those comments during an interview with representatives on the House Intelligence Committee, CNN and The New York Times reported.

Citing unnamed sources, both news outlets said Hicks insisted she had not lied about matters related to the Russia investigation.

The White House communications director, Hope Hicks, acknowledged she had on some occasions told "white lies" on behalf of President Donald Trump.

CNN and The New York Times reported Hicks' remarks on Tuesday night, each citing unnamed sources.

Hicks, who appeared before representatives on the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, insisted that she had not done so about matters related to the investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 US election or whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow, the reports said.

Hicks' testimony stretched on for more than eight hours, but she largely sidestepped lawmakers' questions. That spurred protests from some on the committee who likened Hicks' testimony to that of Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist who stonewalled the panel in January.

Hicks has been under the microscope since reports earlier this month that she may have participated in drafting a White House statement defending Rob Porter, the staff secretary who resigned over multiple allegations of domestic abuse.