The previous Trump lawyer, who labored on the presidential immunity case and oversaw approval of the president’s disputed White Home ballroom venture, will exchange David Warrington on September 1.
Revealed On 10 Aug 2026
United States President Donald Trump has named White Home Employees Secretary Will Scharf as his subsequent White Home counsel, elevating a longtime authorized ally to one of many administration’s most vital authorized positions months earlier than November’s midterm elections.
The previous Trump lawyer, who labored on the presidential immunity case and later oversaw approval of the president’s disputed White Home ballroom venture, will exchange David Warrington on September 1, with Warrington leaving the administration for the non-public sector. Scharf will even maintain the title of assistant to the president, shifting from a task overseeing the executive work of the Oval Workplace to serving because the White Home’s prime lawyer.
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Trump praised Scharf on Reality Social as “Robust, Robust, and Sensible” and pointed to his background as a federal prosecutor and his work representing Trump in a number of authorized instances.
From Trump’s authorized workforce to the White Home
Scharf joined Trump’s authorized workforce in 2023 and labored on the federal election interference case introduced by former Particular Counsel Jack Smith. He was a part of the workforce when the case reached the Supreme Court docket, which in the end dominated in 2024 that presidents have broad immunity from felony prosecution for official acts.
Scharf’s ties to Trump stretch additional again. In the course of the president’s first time period, Scharf labored on the affirmation of federal judges, together with Supreme Court docket Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, based on The Related Press information company.
After Trump returned to workplace in January 2025, Scharf grew to become White Home employees secretary, managing paperwork reaching the president and frequently showing alongside him throughout executive-order signings. The function has positioned Scharf near the method by way of which a lot of Trump’s main coverage selections have been carried out.
Scharf’s function within the ballroom controversy
Scharf has additionally been carefully concerned in one of many Trump administration’s most controversial initiatives.
Trump appointed Scharf chairman of the Nationwide Capital Planning Fee in July 2025. The fee later accepted Trump’s $400m White Home ballroom, deliberate on the location of the demolished East Wing.
The venture has turn into a part of a wider authorized argument over the boundaries of presidential authority. The AFP information company reported on Saturday {that a} federal appeals court docket upheld an order stopping aboveground building, ruling that such a serious alteration to the White Home requires specific congressional approval. Trump mentioned he would take the case to the Supreme Court docket.
Scharf had beforehand maintained that the planning fee had authority over building however not the demolition that preceded it.
![U.S. President Donald Trump holds an image of a rendering of the new White House ballroom to be built in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 22, 2025. [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025-10-22T213640Z_810142896_RC29HHA3WE0O_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP_cropped-1775013362.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
A delicate second for the White Home
The White Home counsel advises the presidency on authorized and constitutional points, evaluations laws and government actions, and helps coordinate the administration’s response to lawsuits and congressional investigations.
Scharf takes over at a very delicate time. Democrats have pledged to research Trump and his administration in the event that they achieve management of Congress in November’s midterm elections, based on AP.
His appointment additionally continues a sample of Trump elevating attorneys who beforehand represented him. Todd Blanche, who defended Trump in his felony instances, was confirmed as legal professional normal on Saturday. D John Sauer, who argued Trump’s presidential immunity case earlier than the Supreme Court docket, was appointed solicitor normal, whereas former Trump lawyer Emil Bove was initially given a senior Justice Division submit earlier than being confirmed to a federal appeals court docket.
