Trump names Will Scharf as White House counsel ahead of midterms

What the report says

US President Donald Trump has chosen White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf to become White House counsel, according to Al Jazeera’s report. The move was announced as part of a broader reshuffling of Trump’s legal team in Washington, with Scharf set to take over on September 1 and replace David Warrington, who is leaving for the private sector.

Al Jazeera said Scharf is a longtime Trump ally who previously served as a lawyer on several high-profile matters, including the federal election interference case brought by former Special Counsel Jack Smith and Trump’s presidential immunity case. He also worked on federal judicial confirmations during Trump’s first term and, after Trump returned to office in January 2025, became White House staff secretary, a job that put him close to the president’s daily decision-making process.

The report also noted Scharf’s involvement in the administration’s controversial White House ballroom project. Trump appointed him to lead the National Capital Planning Commission, which later approved the $400 million project. That plan has since faced legal challenges, with an appeals court recently upholding an order that paused aboveground construction pending further review.

As White House counsel, Scharf will be responsible for advising the president on legal and constitutional issues and handling administration responses to lawsuits and congressional investigations. The appointment comes months before November’s midterm elections, when Democrats are expected to pursue oversight investigations if they gain control of Congress, giving the role added political significance.