Trump appoints Will Scharf as White House counsel ahead of midterms

President Donald Trump has appointed White House staff secretary Will Scharf as White House counsel, elevating a longtime legal ally to one of the administration's most significant legal positions just months before November's midterm elections.

Scharf, who previously served as Trump's attorney in a case involving presidential immunity and later oversaw approval of the controversial White House ballroom project, will replace David Warrington on September 1. Warrington is leaving the administration for the private sector. Scharf will also retain the title of assistant to the president, shifting from overseeing Oval Office administrative work to serving as the White House's top lawyer.

Trump praised Scharf on Truth Social as "tough, strong, and smart," highlighting his experience as a federal prosecutor and his work representing Trump in multiple lawsuits.

From Trump's legal team to the White House

Scharf joined Trump's legal team in 2023 and was involved in 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 ruled in 2024 that presidents are broadly immune from criminal prosecution for official acts.

The relationship between Scharf and Trump goes back further. During Trump's first term, Scharf participated in the confirmation process for federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, according to the Associated Press.

After Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, Scharf became White House staff secretary, managing documents that reach the president and frequently appearing alongside him at executive order signings. The role placed Scharf close to the rollout of many of Trump's major policy decisions.

Scharf's role in the ballroom controversy

Scharf was also deeply involved in one of the Trump administration's most contentious projects.

Trump appointed Scharf chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission in July 2025. The commission subsequently approved the $400 million White House ballroom, planned for the site of the demolished East Wing.

The project became part of a broader legal debate over the limits of presidential power. A federal appeals court upheld a halt to ground construction, ruling that such a major alteration to the White House requires explicit congressional approval. Trump said he would take the case to the Supreme Court.

Earlier, Scharf maintained that the planning commission had authority over construction but not over the demolition that occurred beforehand.

A sensitive time for the White House

The White House counsel advises the president on legal and constitutional matters, reviews legislation and executive actions, and helps coordinate the administration's response to lawsuits and congressional investigations.

Scharf takes on the role at a particularly sensitive time. Democratic lawmakers have pledged to investigate Trump and his administration if they gain control of Congress in the November midterms, according to the AP.

The appointment also continues Trump's pattern of promoting lawyers who have represented him. Todd Blanche, who defended Trump in criminal cases, was confirmed as Attorney General on Saturday. D. John Sauer, who argued the presidential immunity case before the Supreme Court, was appointed as government litigation counsel, while former Trump lawyer Emil Bove initially held a senior position at the Justice Department before being confirmed to a federal appeals court.