Hope Hicks left the White House after telling a House committee she sometimes told "white lies" on Donald Trump's behalf. Despite that admission, she'll soon be returning to his staff.

Ms Hicks' pending return to be a senior aide to Jared Kushner, Mr Trump's son-in-law and a West Wing policy adviser, has set off a new round of palace intrigue about the former Apprentice host's ever-changing roster of staffers and Cabinet officials.

After the leaving her post as Trump's latest White House communications director in February 2018, Ms Hicks landed a plush job as a communications executive at Fox Corporation. But the White House announced she will give up her corporate salary and life to return to a government salary and work inside the most chaotic West Wing in modern history.

Mr Trump is famously skeptical of many staffers, preferring to place most of his trust in a small group. There were few more at the center of that inner circle during his 2016 presidential campaign and the first year of his presidency than Ms Hicks.

"There is no one more devoted to implementing President Trump's agenda than Hope Hicks," Mr Kushner said on Thursday. "We are excited to have her back on the team."

Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Show all 13 1 /13 Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Everyone Trump has fired or forced out John Bolton Trump claimed to have fired Bolton, his national security adviser, while Bolton claimed he offered to resign. An anonymous White House source that Bolton's departure came as a result of the national security adviser working too independently of the president AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Anthony Scaramucci Scaramucci lasted only six days in his role as Trump's communications director before being fired by John Kelly, the incoming chief of staff Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Rick Perry Rick Perry announced his resignation just as he became embroiled in the president's impeachment scandal. The White House said Mr Perry was asked by Donald Trump to work with Rudy GIuliani in regards to Ukraine. AP Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Rex Tillerson Tillerson, Trump's first secretary of state, was fired after a series of clashes with the president over policy Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out James Mattis Mattis served as secretary of defense from the beginning of Trump's administration until retiring on 1 January 2019. However, the president later claimed that he had "essentially fired" Mattis Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out James Comey Comey was fired as director of the FBI early in Trump's presidency after serving in the role for four years prior. His dismissal is widely thought to have been related to the Russia investigation Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Reince Priebus Priebus, Trump's first chief of staff, was forced out after six tumultuous months AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out David Shulkin Veterans affairs secretary Shulkin claims that he was fired, the White House claims that he resigned Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out John Kelly Kelly, Trump's second chief of staff, was forced out after 17 months in office. His departure was a confused affair though it is clear that Trump wanted Kelly out AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Michael Flynn Flynn lasted 24 days as Trump's national security adviser before being fired for lying to the FBI Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Lee Cisna Cisna served as director of citizen and immigration services between October 2017 and June 2019 before being asked to resign amid a major personnel change in the department of homeland security Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Madeline Westerhout Westerhout served as Trump's personal assistant after leaking private information about his family AFP/Getty Everyone Trump has fired or forced out Mira Ricardel Ricardel was forced out of her role as Deputy National Security Advisor after first lady Melania Trump publicly called for her to be fired

To be sure, Mr Trump's presidency at times has felt like a revolving door, with a long list of senior White House aides and Cabinet officials being ousted or leaving for all kinds of reasons – and amid what in the past would have amounted to, for the boss, likely damaging political scandals.

Hicks' case was no different.

Not only did she admit to lying at times for the president during hours of testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, but she also was at the center of a domestic abuse scandal involving her then-boyfriend, former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter.

Hicks testified in early 2018 before the House Intelligence Committee as part of its Russia election meddling probe. She reportedly told the panel her job sometimes requires her to tell "white lies" on behalf of the president.

But sources have since said it was the Porter scandal, in which women with whom he had previously been in romantic relationships alleged he physically and otherwise abused them, that most hurt her and drove her decision to leave Mr Trump's White House – and always-scandal-hungry Washington.

White House aides at the time said the president understood Ms Hicks' decision, but was bothered by her departure. She had become one of his closest confidants, one of the few people he truly thought was looking out for his best interests.

Even in a White House where the president once shrugged off his presidency's record staff turnover pace by saying, "Everyone leaves," Ms Hicks no longer being within shouting distance of the Oval Office left him further isolated.

"At a certain point everyone sort of leaves, you have to leave," he told Fox News in July 2018. "I'm sort of just standing like a ship, just keep going, bing, bing."

Ms Hicks, however, will return to a much different West Wing – one in which the captain of the ship just survived impeachment and was acquitted in a Senate trial from which he emerged angry, bitter and eager for revenge.

Gone is John Kelly, the retired Marine general who was chief of staff when she exited and who is clashing with the president on Thursday after his critical comments the previous night at a New Jersey college.

In is Mick Mulvaney, the acting chief of staff who reportedly never bonded with Mr Trump and frustrated the president with both his actions towards Ukraine in a scandal that led to the impeachment inquiry then his seeming admission in the White House briefing room of a this-for-that deal being sought with the government there. In again, kind of, are ousted former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and former Press Secretary Sean Spicer, who quit; that duo this week was named to a group that helps the White House pick fellows for the coming year. That means neither is completely back in Mr Trump's inner circle, but their appointment was a suggestion the president is turning to old hands to do even relatively simple jobs.

Gone is a New York real estate executive and former reality television star still trying to get his bearings in Washington and a feel for the office he occupies.

In is a president who appears to have fully grasped the broad powers voters handed him in November 2016 – and who seems to have interpreted his acquittal as a sign he can use those authorities to exact revenge on those he thinks wronged him and even use the Justice Department to help his convicted friends.

By bringing Ms Hicks back into the fold, the president whom Mr Kelly once warned against hiring "yes men" soon will have what many considered a leading enabler again down the hall.

Trump interference in Roger Stone case is 'abuse of power' Pelosi says

"Hope Hicks worked with Donald Trump for many years and knows him well. At this point in his presidency coming out of impeachment, he needs people around him whom he trusts," said Martha Kumar, director of the Presidential Transition Project.

"He wants familiar staff as others leave. Hicks is someone he trusted and listened to. It is a good time for her to return," Ms Kumar said, noting the president has lost 75 per cent of staff members with the title "assistant to the president" who were hired in the first two years of his term.

There have been other changes to which Ms Hicks must adjust.

Stephanie Grisham has since been installed in Ms Hicks' former job and the one Ms Sanders vacated earlier this year. There is a possibility Mr Trump will turn to his former communications director for advice that should come from the incumbent of that office.

Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump styles his 'You're fired!' pose in his Trump Tower office in June 2012. At the time he was known as a reality TV star on The Apprentice Diane Bondareff/Invision/AP Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He was also well known as the patron of the Miss Universe competition Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Early signs of Trump's ambition for the presidency can be found everywhere. Not least in his 2011 book 'Time to get tough: Making America #1 again' Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump with Piers Morgan in November 2010. Piers Morgan has long held that he and Trump are good friends Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump appeared on Fox & Friends, his favourite show, in August 2011 Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump considered running in the 2012 election, where he would have faced Barack Obama. He is speaking here at an event for a Republican women's group Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump was subject to a Comedy Central roast in 2011. He is pictured here being roasted by rapper Snoop Dogg Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Given that this Trump store is in the lobby of Trump Tower, it can be said that Trump sells merchandise of himself out of his own home Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump held meetings with prominent Republicans when considering his 2012 bid. He is pictured here with Alaska governor Sarah Palin Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He didn't end up running in 2012 afterall, instead endorsing Republican candidate Mitt Romney AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump's golf course in Aberdeen proved controversial in 2012 when he began lobbying the Scottish government against wind power in order that they wouldn't install turbines off the shore by his new course Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He even gave evidence to a Scottish parliamentary committee discouraging wind energy AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves He still found time for a round of course AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves On 16 June 2015, Trump announced that he would run for the presidency of the United States in the 2016 election as a Republican Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves His campaign was divisive, courting controversy wherever he went. Ultimately he was declared the Republican candidate in June 2016 Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump took part in the TV debate against opponent Hillary Clinton on 9 October Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump and wife Melania vote in the presidential election on 8 November 2016 AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Hillary Clinton conceded defeat at 2:50am on 9 November and president-elect Trump swiftly delivered his victory speech to a crowd of supporters Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves News coverage around the world focused on the huge political upset that Trump's victory spelled AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump met with president Obama to discusss transition planning on 10 November. AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Donald Trump and Nigel Farage pose in the golden elevator at Trump Tower on 12 November 2016. Farage was the first British politician to meet with Trump after the election LeaveEUOffical/Twitter Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves The inauguration of Donald Trump took place on 20 January 2017. Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer boasted that the crowd was the 'largest ever' to witness an inauguration, a claim that was proved not to be true Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves In his first 100 days as leader, Trump signed 24 executve orders, the most of any president AFP/Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves One of Trump's most memorable election pledges was to build a wall between the US and Mexico. He is standing here in front of a prototype for a section of the wall Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump's meetings with other world leaders have provided no short supply of photo opportunities Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Trump was welcomed to the UK by the Queen and a state banquet was held at Buckingham Palace in his honour Reuters Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves Not everyone welcomed the president. Mass protests were held in London throughout his visits in both 2018 and 2019 EPA Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves One of the most significant meetings Trump has held with another leader was with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. In June 2019, Trump became the first sitting president to set foot in North Korea Getty Donald Trump celebrity president: A decade in two halves 2020 will see president Trump fight for a second term in office, who knows what the next decade will bring? Getty

One White House official assured The Independent that Ms Hicks "won't be part of the communications department," adding "she will be working closely with Jared Kushner ... in a number of strategic areas."

As for Ms Grisham, she told The Independent she is "beyond thrilled to welcome Hope back to the White House."

"I have worked with Hope for almost six years and can say without hesitation she is one of the most talented and savvy individuals I have come across," Ms Grisham said. "She has always impressed me with her quiet confidence, loyalty and expertise."

On Ms Hicks' final day of her first Trump White House run, a group of staffers were huddled in Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders' office late in the afternoon as the outgoing Trump confidant broke the news. "Everybody loves you," said a voice from within.

Another aide at the time said they wanted to treat her departure as a "celebration." But there are questions aplenty about whether they will see her return the same way.