Hope Hicks admits Donald Trump didn't want his family to be 'hurt or embarrassed' over extramarital affair allegations

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Hope Hicks, Donald Trump's 2016 campaign press secretary, told the court on Friday, May 3, that the 77-year-old was concerned over how the extramarital allegations brought against him would impact his family and didn't want them to be "hurt or embarrassed."

The 35-year-old, who went on to serve as his White House communications director, said the former president was concerned about the stories regarding the affair allegations and how they would specifically be viewed by his wife, Melania Trump.

What did Hope Hicks say regarding Donald Trump's allegations?

Asked by Trump's defense attorney Emile Bove about the impact on his family and whether he expressed concern over it, Hicks responded, “Absolutely ... I don’t think he wanted anyone in his family to be hurt or embarrassed about anything on the campaign. He wanted them to be proud of him.”

Hicks noted earlier in her testimony that Trump wanted her to make sure the newspapers weren’t delivered to their residence, as per Fox News. 

Hope Hicks said Donald Trump claimed his affair with Karen McDougal to be 'untrue'

Hicks also noted on Friday, May 3, that Trump told her the claims of him having an affair with former Playboy model Karen McDougal were "unequivocally untrue." Her remarks on the matter came as she offered testimony to the court about a Wall Street Journal article that discussed the alleged affair and included comments from her.

In the article, Hicks is quoted saying "We have no knowledge of any of this” and that McDougal’s claim of an affair with Trump was “totally untrue.” Hicks didn't say whether Trump directed her to say that, but noted that he denied the affair in general. She also couldn't remember Trump directing her to specifically state, “We have no knowledge of any of this.”

Hicks said Trump did tell her to say that it was “absolutely, unequivocally untrue."

Donald Trump lashed out at those involved in the trial

The former president took to Truth Social on Friday, May 3, amid his criminal trial in New York City to take aim at those involved in what he called a "WITCH HUNT."

"This isn’t a trial, it’s a political campaign, a witch hunt, just like the highly conflicted and biased judge, Juan Merchan, wanted it to be. I’m sure his political friends and allies, and crooked Joe Biden, in particular, will be thrilled that they are getting away with this corrupt, 'ancient,' and highly political attack on his 2024 presidential opponent," Trump wrote in all caps in the post.

He added, "These eight year old stories, which came out prior to the 2016 election (the voters have already, and loudly, spoken!), and have nothing to do with this fake case, brought by a crooked, Soros backed New York City D.A., Alvin Bragg, should not have been allowed to be used. Virtually every legal scholar and expert call it a sham and disgrace, election interference. It is an insult to American justice!"