President Donald Trump has named Will Scharf White House counsel, elevating his current staff secretary to the administration’s most important legal post effective September 1, 2026. The announcement, made on August 9, 2026, marks a significant shakeup in Trump’s inner circle and places one of his most trusted attorneys in charge of the office that oversees everything from judicial nominations to presidential pardons.
Trump Announces the Appointment on Truth Social
Trump broke the news himself on Truth Social on Sunday, August 9, 2026, praising Scharf in characteristically direct terms. “Will is Tough, Strong, and Smart! He also loves our Country, and respects the Law. Will Scharf will do a great job as White House Counsel!” Trump wrote.
The president confirmed that Scharf will officially step into the role on September 1, 2026, taking over from David Warrington, who has served as White House counsel since Trump’s second-term inauguration. Warrington is departing the administration to return to the private sector. He previously worked as Trump’s personal counsel and served as a lawyer for the 2024 campaign before joining the White House team.
Who Is Will Scharf?
Scharf is a familiar face inside the West Wing, though many Americans may not immediately recognize the man who has spent the past year and a half standing beside Trump in the Oval Office, handing him executive orders to sign. As White House staff secretary, Scharf has managed the flow of paperwork across the president’s desk, giving him one of the small number of Oval Office walk-in privileges granted to senior aides.
A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Scharf built his legal career as a federal prosecutor before entering Trump’s orbit. He previously worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney in St. Louis and later joined CRC Advisors, a conservative public relations firm founded by judicial activist Leonard Leo.
Scharf also ran for Missouri attorney general, though he lost the Republican primary to incumbent Andrew Bailey despite Trump’s endorsement.
A Trusted Member of Trump’s Legal Team
Scharf’s path to White House counsel traces back to October 2023, when he joined Trump’s legal team amid a wave of legal battles facing the former president. He became one of Trump’s attorneys in the election interference case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, a case that ultimately reached the Supreme Court. The justices ruled that presidents hold broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts, a decision widely viewed as a major legal victory for Trump.
Scharf also represented Trump in matters tied to his 2024 hush money trial in Manhattan and became a regular presence on television defending the president during that period.
His close relationship with Trump earned him the staff secretary appointment shortly after the 2024 election win. In that role, Scharf also chaired the National Capital Planning Commission, where he helped secure approval for Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom construction project.
What the White House Counsel Actually Does
The White House counsel serves as the administration’s top in-house lawyer, advising the president on legal and policy matters tied directly to the presidency. The office functions as the primary point of contact between the White House and the Department of Justice, and it plays a central role in several high-stakes responsibilities.
Among its core duties, the counsel’s office:
- Reviews and manages presidential pardons
- Oversees judicial nominations, including potential Supreme Court picks
- Reviews pending legislation before it reaches the president’s desk
- Manages congressional investigations into the administration
- Handles lawsuits filed against the president in his official capacity
Scharf already has experience in one of these areas. During Trump’s first term, he worked behind the scenes to help secure the confirmations of Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Notably, Kavanaugh himself once served as White House staff secretary, the same position Scharf currently holds, under President George W. Bush.
Timing Comes Ahead of the Midterms
The leadership change in the counsel’s office arrives at a politically sensitive moment. Trump’s appointment of Scharf comes just months before the 2026 midterm elections, when Republicans will be working to hold their majority in Congress. A strong, trusted legal team is often viewed as essential during election years, particularly given the likelihood of legal challenges, congressional oversight fights, and disputes that could land in court.
Scharf is also positioned to play a central role should another Supreme Court vacancy arise during Trump’s second term, given his track record on past confirmation efforts.
Part of a Broader Pattern
Scharf’s promotion continues a trend within the Trump administration of elevating personal attorneys into senior government roles. Just last week, Todd Blanche, who represented Trump during his hush money trial, was confirmed as attorney general. Other Trump lawyers, including Emil Bove and John Sauer, have also been tapped for senior Justice Department positions since the start of the second term.
Scharf’s rise from campaign lawyer to staff secretary to White House counsel reflects the same pattern, underscoring how central his legal work for Trump has been over the past several years.
What Comes Next
Scharf officially transitions into the White House counsel role on September 1, 2026. Until then, he continues his duties as staff secretary while preparing to take over an office responsible for some of the administration’s most consequential legal decisions in the months leading up to the midterms.
What do you think this leadership change means for the White House heading into the midterms? Share your thoughts in the comments and check back for updates as this story develops.