Top Communications Adviser to Leave White House

(Bloomberg) -- Jessica Ditto, an original Trump White House adviser, is leaving her job as deputy communications director to enter the private sector.

Ditto is expected to leave the West Wing in two weeks. She played a key role in major battles fought by the White House, including passage of USMCA and the 2018 midterm elections as well as planning for State of the Union addresses. Most recently, she led a team of a dozen communications aides including the booking, cabinet and media affairs departments and served as an adviser to Trump’s daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump.

“It has been a great honor to work in the White House. I have served since the first day of this presidency and I leave with immense pride and faith in our great nation,” Ditto said in a statement to Bloomberg News. “I am grateful to the President, First Lady, Ivanka, [press secretary] Stephanie [Grisham] and my incredible team for their faith in me these past four years, starting with the campaign and continuing through our service to the nation.”

Ditto’s departure follows the exit of another top communications aide, Adam Kennedy. It also deprives Trump of another adviser who has been with him since his 2016 campaign and survived near-constant turmoil in the White House communications operation.

After White House press secretary Sean Spicer resigned in July 2017 and Anthony Scaramucci was about to take over as communications director, Ditto’s apartment flooded due to a pipe burst and people close to her asked her if she was really sure she wanted to sign a new lease -- or if it was time to leave an administration rife with leaks and drama. Ditto elected to stay on board.

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