Who is Will Scharf—Trump’s newly appointed White House counsel

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Will Scharf—currently serving as White House staff secretary will take over as the new White House counsel and assistant to the president.

Scharf is an American lawyer and political adviser who currently serves as Trump’s White House staff secretary and chairs the National Capital Planning Commission.

As reported, the former attorney, who worked on the presidential immunity case and later oversaw approval of the president’s disputed White House ballroom project, will replace David Warrington on September 1, 2026.

After leaving the administration David Warrington will join the private sector.

Importantly, Scharf is a longtime legal ally who previously represented Trump in several high-profile matters, including the presidential immunity case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. He also served as a federal prosecutor and clerked for federal appeals court judges.

Moving from staff secretary to White House counsel places Scharf at the head of the administration's legal defenses.

Under the new role, he will now manage executive privileges, judicial appointments, relations with the Justice Department, and potential legal challenges.

Scharf joined Trump’s legal team in 2023 and worked on the federal election interference case brought by former Special Counsel Jack Smith. 

He was part of the team when the case reached the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in 2024 that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.

After Trump returned to office in January 2025, Scharf became White House staff secretary, managing documents reaching the president and regularly appearing alongside him during executive-order signings.

Scharf's appointment comes at a high-stakes moment as the administration deals with setbacks on the ballroom construction and braces for intense congressional oversight.

He also chaired the National Capital Planning Commission, where he helped fast-track approvals for Trump's controversial $400 million White House ballroom project.

The role has placed Scharf close to the process through which many of Trump’s major policy decisions have been implemented.

Trump praised Scharf on Truth Social as “Tough, Strong, and Smart” and pointed to his background as a federal prosecutor and his work representing Trump in several legal cases.