President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Will Scharf, currently serving as assistant to the president and White House staff secretary, will take over as the new White House counsel effective Sept. 1. Scharf will replace David Warrington, who is leaving the administration to join the private sector.
President Trump Names Staff Secretary Will Scharf as New White House Counsel
In a social media statement posted to Truth Social, Trump praised his incoming counsel: Will is Tough, Strong, and Smart! He also loves our Country, and respects the Law.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also congratulated Scharf on X, while praising Warrington’s tenure for helping deliver judicial confirmations and legal victories.
Background and Prior Roles in the Administration
As White House staff secretary, Scharf manages the everyday paperwork, presidential actions, speeches, correspondence, and press releases crossing the president’s desk. He is frequently seen at Trump’s side during Oval Office signing ceremonies, handing over executive orders and providing running narration.
In addition to his staff secretary duties, Trump named Scharf as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) in July 2025. In that role, he helped secure NCPC approval in April for Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project. However, a divided federal appeals court subsequently ruled that construction must halt because Congress had not approved the project, a decision the administration vowed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Scharf’s resume also includes serving as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, clerking for two federal appeals court judges, and working in private practice. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
Legal Defense and Supreme Court History
Scharf joins a growing list of Trump’s personal attorneys and legal team members who have secured prominent roles in his second administration. He joined Trump’s legal team in October 2023 after running unsuccessfully for Missouri attorney general in 2024, and defended Trump in the federal election interference case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.
Scharf was part of the legal team that successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that presidents enjoy sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts. During Trump’s first term, Scharf also worked to help secure judicial confirmations, including U.S. Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh — who previously served as a White House staff secretary under President George W. Bush — and Amy Coney Barrett.
High-Stakes Timing Ahead of Midterms
The leadership change in the White House counsel’s office arrives at a critical political juncture, sitting just months ahead of midterm elections where the Republican Party faces challenges in holding onto control of Congress. The White House counsel’s office acts as the primary liaison to the Justice Department, handles presidential pardons, reviews legislation, works on judicial appointments, and manages congressional investigations and official lawsuits.
While some observers and commentators have debated potential confrontations if Democrats regain congressional majorities, a White House official stated that the administration is always prepared to respond to oversight requests. Bud Cummins, a former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, noted that Scharf is an experienced litigator who is unlikely to be intimidated by congressional subpoenas and document demands.