Trump to hire ex-Fox News executive Bill Shine as White House communications director

The former Fox News co-president resigned amid numerous sexual assault scandals at the president's favourite network

Bill Shine, an Ailes loyalist, was named co-president of Fox News after Mr. Ailes was forced out (Reuters)

Donald Trump will reportedly offer the role of White House communications director to the former co-president of Fox News, Bill Shine.

The president has repeatedly met with Mr Shine in recent weeks to discuss the vacant position in his administration, according to multiple sources who spoke with the New York Times and Politico.

The former Fox News executive would be replacing 29-year-old Hope Hicks, who stepped down from her post in March.

Mr Shine was forced to leave Fox News earlier this year after reports emerged detailing sexual harassment and abuse at the network.

Critics opposed the former co-president’s handling of numerous assault claims against former Chief Executive Roger Ailes and host Bill O’Reilly.

Mr Shine, who has never been publicly accused of sexual harassment, denied any wrongdoing in either scandal.

Multiple reports said Mr Trump was considering White House Senior Adviser Kellyanne Conway to take over the role, but she reportedly declined and has since spearheaded the administration’s efforts on the national opioid crisis.

Fox News host Sean Hannity has been reportedly encouraging Mr Trump to hire the former executive in phone call discussions over recent weeks. Prior to climbing the network’s corporate ladder, Mr Shine was a senior producer for Mr Hannity’s show.

If hired, Mr Shine would be the president’s fifth communications director.

Ms Hicks replaced Anthony Scaramucci, whose ten-day tenure in the position ended after an expletive-ridden interview he provided on-record to the New Yorker spurred public backlash.

Mr Shine received a degree in communications from the State University of New York at Oswego, and is married with two kids. He does not have any political experience.