The blending of US President Donald Trump’s White House and Rupert Murdoch’s media empire continues.

Murdoch’s FOX, the company to be spun-off in connection with 21st Century Fox’s planned $US71.3 billion merger with The Walt Disney Company, has announced that Hope Hicks has been hired as executive vice-president and chief communications officer.

Hicks was Trump’s White House communications director and director of strategic communications before resigning in March.

While Trump has publicly lambasted many members of his staff and cabinet, he has regularly offered fond words for Hicks.

The 29-year-old will work under Murdoch’s oldest son, Lachlan, at FOX in Los Angeles.

“FOX won’t find anyone smarter or more talented than Hope Hicks,” Trump’s press secretary, Sarah Sanders, wrote in a tweet.

“They are beyond lucky to have you and the East Coast misses you already.”

FOX described Hicks as a proven leader and world-class public affairs professional.

Lachlan Murdoch, 47, is set to become FOX’s chairman and chief executive, overseeing a slimmed-down collection of the family-run media assets including Fox News, Fox Business Network and Fox Sports.

Rupert Murdoch, 87, will be FOX’s co-chairman.

Disney announced late last year a plan to buy most of 21st Century Fox, including the iconic 20th Century Fox movie studio, FX Networks and other entertainment assets.

The deal is expected to be completed next year.

Trump is an outspoken fan of Fox News, recites their stories on Twitter and regularly appears as a guest on the channel while dubbing rivals CNN and MSNBC as “fake news”.

Trump hired former Fox News executive Bill Shine as White House communications deputy chief of staff after Hicks’ departure.

Fox News’ prime time program hosts Sean Hannity, Laura Ingram and Tucker Carlson are staunch supporters of the Republican president.

Trump and Rupert Murdoch reportedly talk weekly and sometimes daily.

At last year’s Australia-US black tie event in New York to honour the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, Murdoch stood on stage and introduced “my friend” Trump to an audience including then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

– AAP