Donald Trump's ex-aide Hope Hicks testifies on his response to 'Access Hollywood' tape leak

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Donald Trump's former press secretary Hope Hicks provided crucial testimony on Friday, May 3, regarding the infamous 'Access Hollywood' tape.

During the ongoing hush money criminal trial in Manhattan, Hicks told the court that she was "very concerned" and "stunned" when she, the former president, and other campaign members found out about the controversial tape that surfaced during the 2016 presidential campaign.

What is the 'Access Hollywood' tape?

Released before the 2016 presidential election, the notorious 2005 'Access Hollywood' tape captured Trump making disparaging remarks about women and boasting about his attempts to engage in sexual advances.

He made the remarks while waiting for a cameo appearance on a soap opera, a decade before he became president.

Shortly before the presidential election in November 2016, Trump dismissed the tape as "locker room banter" and "a private conversation."

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, a former attorney with President Joe Biden's Justice Department asked Hicks about her response to a Washington Post press inquiry sent via email about the former president's comments in the clip.

“I was concerned, very concerned," said Hicks, adding, "I was concerned about the contents of the email, concerned about the lack of time to respond, concerned about having a transcript and not a tape."

Hope Hicks reveals Donald Trump's reaction to 'Access Hollywood' tape

Hicks, who also served as White House communications director under Trump, said the 77-year-old politician who was upset at the time, denied that the remarks outlined in the email inquiry would sound like something he would say.

Hicks also shared that despite Trump's acknowledgment that the tape was not a positive reflection, he noted that it was a private conversation not intended to offend.

She said the former president “always liked to weigh in on responses."

Hope Hicks was 'a little stunned' by 'Access Hollywood' tape

At the trial on Friday, May 3, Hicks recounted the moment she learned about the 'Access Hollywood' tape and claimed she was "a little stunned."

"It’s hard to describe, but yeah, it was definitely concerning. I had a good sense this was going to be a massive story and dominate the news cycle for the next several days at least," she continued.

Hicks then claimed that the tape's revelation at the time was "a damaging development" and noted that it "obviously wasn’t helpful," according to CNN.

Internet reacts to Hope Hicks' testimony

Reacting to Hicks and Trump's response to 'Access Hollywood' tape, one user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "She was so stunned she worked for him anyway. That’s laughable."

One user wrote, "She was shocked did she know anything about Trumps history before working for him if she did she wouldn’t be shocked."

"I highly doubt any of them were shocked to hear Trump talk that way," tweeted another netizen.

"This has turned into nothing more than a smear Trump circus," a user wrote and another user tweeted, "Hope did a lot of good work. Trump didn't appreciate what she did."

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