Trump Names Will Scharf as New White House Counsel
President Donald Trump announced Sunday that White House staff secretary Will Scharf will become his new White House counsel, effective September 1, replacing David Warrington, who is leaving the administration for the private sector. The appointment elevates a longtime legal ally to one of the most consequential positions in the administration’s legal team.
According to AP News, Scharf will also hold the title of assistant to the president, moving from a role overseeing the administrative work of the Oval Office to serving as the White House’s top lawyer. Trump praised Scharf on Truth Social, writing: “Will is Tough, Strong, and Smart! He also loves our Country, and respects the Law. Will Scharf will do a great job as White House Counsel!”
A Career Built Around Trump’s Legal Defense
Scharf’s path to the White House counsel’s office has been deeply intertwined with Trump’s legal battles. A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Scharf served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri before joining Trump’s legal team in October 2023. He was one of Trump’s lawyers in the federal election interference case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, which reached the Supreme Court and resulted in the landmark ruling that presidents enjoy broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.
During Trump’s first term, Scharf worked on judicial confirmations, including Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. As The Guardian noted, Warrington, the outgoing counsel, formerly served as a personal counsel and lawyer for Trump’s 2024 campaign.
The Ballroom Controversy
Scharf’s appointment comes amid the controversy over the $400 million White House ballroom project, which he helped approve as Trump-appointed chair of the National Capital Planning Commission. A divided federal appeals court ruled Friday that construction must stop because Congress had not approved the project, with Trump vowing to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The court wrote that “whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help,” according to AP News. Trump called the decision “unjust” and said the Military and Secret Service view the ruling as “a National Security threat to our Nation.”
A Pattern of Elevating Trump’s Lawyers
The appointment continues a pattern of Trump elevating lawyers who previously represented him to high-level positions. Todd Blanche, who defended Trump in his criminal cases, was confirmed as attorney general on Saturday. D. John Sauer, who argued Trump’s presidential immunity case before the Supreme Court, was appointed solicitor general, as Al Jazeera reported.
Scharf is Jewish and was raised in a Modern Orthodox household, according to The Jerusalem Post. Trump noted that Scharf was “a top student at both Princeton University, and Harvard Law School.”
What the White House Counsel Does
The White House counsel advises the president on legal and policy questions related to the presidency. The office is the primary White House contact for the Justice Department, handles presidential pardons, works on judicial appointments, and reviews legislation. The office also helps investigate and manage congressional investigations into the administration and lawsuits against the president when he is sued in his official capacity.
A Critical Juncture
The shakeup in the White House counsel’s office comes at a critical moment, just months ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, where Trump’s Republican Party will be fighting to hold control of Congress. Democrats have vowed to pursue investigations into Trump and his administration if they are successful in November.
Scharf’s background as a former federal prosecutor, his experience in Trump’s most consequential legal cases, and his deep ties to conservative legal circles position him well for the role. His tenure will begin September 1, just as the administration prepares for what could be a contentious fall season on the legal and political fronts.
As staff secretary, Scharf was responsible for managing the papers that cross the president’s desk, and he regularly appeared alongside Trump during executive order signings. His transition to White House counsel marks a significant step up in responsibility, placing him at the center of the administration’s legal strategy during a period of intense political and legal scrutiny.