Trump announces staff secretary Will Scharf will be his new White House counsel

President Donald Trump has announced that Will Scharf, currently serving as the White House staff secretary, will take on the role of White House counsel, replacing David Warrington, according to a statement from the White House. The transition is set to take effect on September 1st, 2025. Scharf, who has previously worked as a federal prosecutor and represented Trump in various legal cases, including before the Supreme Court, is praised by Trump for his "Tough, Strong, and Smart" qualities and his love for the country.

The White House counsel's office is responsible for advising on legal and policy matters related to the presidency, handling presidential pardons, overseeing judicial appointments, and managing presidential pardons, judicial appointments, and legislative reviews. In Trump's first term, Scharf played a significant role in securing confirmations for judicial appointments, including Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

During Trump's time out of office, Scharf joined Trump's legal team in the election interference case and was one of his lawyers in the Supreme Court case on presidential immunity. As White House staff secretary, Scharf managed the flow of papers to Trump and provided commentary during executive orders. He also served as the chair of the National Capital Planning Commission, where he helped secure approval for a $400 million ballroom project on the White House grounds, despite a federal appeals court ruling that the construction must halt due to unapproved congressional funding.