Trump Names Will Scharf White House Counsel

President Donald Trump has selected White House staff secretary Will Scharf to serve as his next White House counsel, moving the former personal lawyer into one of the administration’s most sensitive legal posts just two months before the November midterms. Scharf will assume the role on September 1, succeeding David Warrington, who is departing for the private sector.

The appointment continues a pattern in which Trump has placed attorneys who represented him in private legal matters into senior government positions. Scharf joined Trump’s legal team in 2023 and contributed to the defense in the federal election interference case brought by special counsel Jack Smith. That effort reached the Supreme Court, which ruled in 2024 that presidents enjoy broad immunity from prosecution for official acts. Scharf also chaired the National Capital Planning Commission, where he oversaw efforts to advance Trump’s disputed plan to construct a ballroom at the White House. An appeals court recently paused that project.

Trump described Scharf on social media as tough, strong and smart, citing his experience as a federal prosecutor and his work on several of the president’s legal matters. The move elevates Scharf from managing the flow of documents into and out of the Oval Office to serving as the administration’s chief legal adviser on matters ranging from executive actions to potential congressional investigations.

The timing carries institutional weight. If Democrats gain control of the House or Senate in November, the White House counsel’s office would likely become a central point of contact for subpoenas, document requests and assertions of executive privilege. Congressional Democrats have already signaled plans to pursue aggressive oversight if they secure majorities. Scharf’s background defending Trump in criminal and civil matters could shape how the administration responds to those demands, particularly on issues involving presidential authority and immunity precedents.

Scharf is not the only former Trump lawyer now occupying a high legal post. Todd Blanche, another attorney who represented Trump, was confirmed as attorney general over the weekend. D. John Sauer, who argued the immunity case before the Supreme Court, has served as solicitor general since 2025. Together the placements reflect an administration preference for legal advisers with direct experience litigating on Trump’s behalf rather than career government attorneys.

The White House counsel traditionally advises the president and senior staff on compliance with the law while coordinating responses to legislative and judicial inquiries. That function grows more prominent during periods of divided government, when Congress can compel testimony and documents. Scharf’s dual experience in high-stakes litigation and administrative oversight of White House operations positions him to manage both routine legal questions and potential confrontations with lawmakers.

Administration officials have not detailed specific priorities for Scharf beyond the general duties of the office. The ballroom project he helped advance remains stalled following the court ruling, illustrating one area where legal and policy disputes intersect with physical changes to the executive mansion. Scharf’s move from staff secretary to counsel consolidates influence over both the administrative machinery of the presidency and its legal strategy at a moment when midterm outcomes could alter the balance of power between branches.