President Donald Trump berated Hope Hicks for telling lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that she had occasionally told white lies for him, CNN reported.

On Wednesday, Hicks announced her resignation as the White House communications director.

Hicks had been entangled earlier this month in the fallout from the resignation of the White House staff secretary Rob Porter after two of his ex-wives accused him of domestic abuse.

Citing an ally of the president, CNN reported on Wednesday that President Donald Trump berated Hope Hicks, his White House communications director, for testimony she gave to US lawmakers this week during which she said she occasionally told white lies on his behalf.

CNN's source described Hicks as Trump's "last emotional crutch," suggesting her comments to the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday aggravated a tense situation.

Hicks had been under scrutiny since at least early February over her role in the White House's handling of the scandal surrounding Rob Porter, the staff secretary who resigned after two of his ex-wives accused him of physical and emotional abuse.

Hicks, who was dating Porter at the time, is said to have helped write a White House statement defending him.

"What happened yesterday just put the nail in the coffin for her," said April Ryan, a White House correspondent and CNN contributor.

Citing her own sources in the West Wing, Ryan said Hicks had given a tentative resignation after the Porter incident, suggesting hers "was a forced resignation."