Trump appoints legal ally Will Scharf as White House counsel ahead of midterms
Will Scharf replaces David Warrington in top legal post, continuing a pattern of appointing former personal counsel to key government positions.
United States President Donald Trump has appointed White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf as the next White House counsel, effective 1 September 2026. The move elevates Scharf to the role of assistant to the president, shifting him from an administrative position overseeing Oval Office operations to the administration’s top legal advisor. Scharf will replace David Warrington, who is departing the government for the private sector.
The appointment arrives months before the November midterm elections, a period of heightened political tension. Democrats have pledged to launch investigations into the Trump administration if they secure control of Congress in the upcoming vote. Scharf’s new role places him at the centre of the legal and constitutional challenges that the White House is expected to face during any such inquiries.
Scharf’s career with the president spans several high-stakes legal and administrative battles. He joined Trump’s legal team in 2023, working on the federal election interference case brought by former Special Counsel Jack Smith. He was part of the legal defence when the Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that presidents possess broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.
Prior to his current appointment, Scharf served as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, a position he assumed in July 2025. In this capacity, he oversaw the approval of a $400 million project to construct a ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing. The project has sparked significant legal debate regarding the limits of presidential authority over White House grounds.
A federal appeals court recently upheld an order halting aboveground construction of the ballroom, ruling that such major alterations require explicit congressional approval. Trump has indicated he will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. Scharf had previously argued that the planning commission held authority over construction but not the preceding demolition.
The selection of Scharf continues a broader trend within the administration of promoting lawyers who previously represented Trump personally. Other recent appointments include Todd Blanche as attorney general, John Sauer as solicitor general, and Emil Bove to a federal appeals court. Scharf’s background also includes work on the confirmation of federal judges during Trump’s first term, including Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
As White House counsel, Scharf will advise the presidency on legal and constitutional matters, review legislation and executive actions, and coordinate the administration’s response to lawsuits and congressional investigations. His elevation signals a consolidation of legal strategy within the White House as the administration prepares for potential legislative scrutiny.
