Washington — President Trump announced on Sunday, August 10, 2026, via Truth Social that White House staff secretary Will Scharf will become the next White House counsel, replacing David Warrington, who is transitioning to the private sector.

Scharf, 40, currently oversees the flow of information, paperwork, and executive orders for the president. He is known for handing President Trump executive orders to sign and explaining them aloud. Additionally, Scharf chairs the National Capital Planning Commission, which manages projects including the president's triumphal arch.

A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard University Law School, Scharf served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Missouri from 2020 to 2022, prosecuting violent crimes. President Trump praised him, saying, "Will is Tough, Strong, and Smart! He also loves our Country, and respects the Law."

Scharf's appointment comes shortly before the midterm elections, amid the possibility that Democrats may regain control of one or both chambers of Congress. The announcement followed the Senate's confirmation of Todd Blanche, the president's former personal defense attorney, as U.S. attorney general.

Sources