‘Jealous’ Trump demoted Brad Parscale for dating Hope Hicks, says rumor as Internet asks her to date AG Barr
Counselor to the president, Hope Hicks, began trending on Twitter on Thursday afternoon, July 16, hours after President Donald Trump demoted former campaign manager Brad Parscale. Multiple Twitter users speculated that a "jealous" Trump demoted Parscale after the latter was caught "canoodling" with Hicks. Considering Hicks' dating history in the White House, which reportedly led to the removal of two former staffers, many called on her to date Attorney General William Barr, in hopes that he would eventually be fired too.
The Trump campaign, in an announcement on Wednesday, July 15, stated that veteran Bill Stepien will replace Parscale as campaign manager. Parscale, meanwhile, is expected to continue working with the campaign’s data operation, according to reports. Although it was not immediately clear why Parscale was demoted, social media users grabbed on the opportunity to speculate the reason, with many floating Parscale and Hicks' dating rumors. Trump's campaign manager in 2016, Corey Lewandowski, was also demoted by the Republican leader after he was believed to have dated Hicks.
The latest unfounded rumor, however, appears to have originated in a joke between Rick Wilson, one of the co-founders of The Lincoln Project, and a popular political Twitter account YS. Shortly after Parscale's demotion, Wilson had tweeted: "BLIND ITEM: What Trump campaign official has hired a private detective and an oppo firm to target at least one of their rivals?" To which YS had responded with: "Parscale and Hicks spotted canoodling at Comet Pizza. On-lookers witnessed a 'more than friends' vibe."
The exchange, within hours, birthed Parscale-Hicks dating rumors, with many calling on her to begin dating Bill Barr, hoping that a "jealous" Trump would fire him too. "Trump demoted Parscale when he found he was dating Hope Hicks, same thing that happened with Lewandowski and Rob Porter. It wasn't their sheer incompetence that got them canned, it was their virility, Trump was jealous. @realDonaldTrump," one user wrote.
"No, it was Hope Hicks. EVERY man she has been with has gotten fired: Corey Lewandowski, Rob Porter, Brad Parscale," another user suggested. While another said: "Seems the only thing that can get you fired in Trumplandia is dating Hope Hicks. She should use her powers for good, go out one time with Bill Barr then Stephen Miller." A third added: "Take one for the team, Hope Hicks: Start dating Bill Barr."
"Dear Hope Hicks, I hear #AGBillBarr is available and LOVES brunettes," a fourth user wrote. One user pointed out her dating history, writing: "Hope Hicks has dated Corey Lewandowski, abuser Rob Porter and now Brad Parscale. She has the same terrible taste in men that she does in employers -- Ivanka, Trump, Fox News and now Trump again."
Hicks, prior to rejoining the White House earlier this year, was romantically linked to Lewandowski, who was married at the time. Hicks was believed to have had an intermittent extramarital affair with him. She also reportedly was romantically involved with a former White House staffer, Rob Porter, who was removed amid a number of domestic abuse incidents in his past.