United States President Donald Trump has appointed White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf as the next White House counsel, effective September 1, replacing David Warrington who is leaving for the private sector. Scharf, a longtime legal ally of Trump, will also serve as assistant to the president, transitioning from managing administrative work in the Oval Office to becoming the White House's top lawyer.

Scharf previously worked on Trump's presidential immunity case and oversaw approval of the president's disputed White House ballroom project. During Trump's first term, he was involved in the confirmation of federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. After Trump returned to office in January 2025, Scharf took on the role of White House staff secretary, managing documents reaching the president and frequently appearing alongside him during executive-order signings.

In related appointments, D John Sauer, who argued Trump's presidential immunity case before the Supreme Court, was named solicitor general. Former Trump lawyer Emil Bove initially received a senior Justice Department post before being confirmed to a federal appeals court.

An appeals court recently upheld an injunction pausing Trump's White House ballroom project.

Sources