President Donald Trump is reshuffling his White House legal team, tapping trusted attorney Will Scharf to serve as White House counsel just weeks before the midterm elections.
Scharf, who had been serving as White House staff secretary, will step into one of the administration’s most consequential legal roles, replacing David Warrington. The timing is significant. Republicans are bracing for a potential wave of Democratic investigations if control of Congress flips, and having a battle-tested legal mind in that seat matters enormously.
Trump announced the move Saturday and made no secret of his confidence in the pick. “I know Will well!” Trump wrote on social media, calling Scharf “tough, strong, and smart.” He added, “Will Scharf will do a great job as White House Counsel!”
Warrington is expected to leave the administration and return to the private sector.
As originally reported, Scharf, 40, has been one of Trump’s most trusted legal hands for some time, previously representing him in high-stakes personal legal battles, including the Supreme Court fight tied to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s election interference case.
His time as staff secretary gave him unusual visibility inside the administration. He handled legal memos, policy documents, and materials requiring the president’s direct attention, putting him at the center of day-to-day operations. He also became a familiar presence at White House signing ceremonies, where Trump regularly called on him to explain executive orders and legal actions to reporters.
That kind of front-row access makes Scharf a natural choice for a role that is about to get considerably more demanding.
If Democrats capture the House in November, they are widely expected to unleash committee power against the administration, with subpoenas, investigations, and courtroom battles potentially following in short order. The White House counsel’s office would be ground zero for that fight.
Scharf’s responsibilities extend beyond the West Wing. He has also been appointed to the National Capital Planning Commission, where he has helped advance the legal case for Trump’s ambitious renovation plans across Washington. Those projects have drawn repeated legal challenges from critics of the administration’s vision for reshaping parts of the nation’s capital.
The promotion puts Scharf at the intersection of politics, policy, and law at one of the most consequential moments of Trump’s second term. With the midterms approaching and the legal landscape potentially shifting fast, the White House now has one of its most tested attorneys positioned to handle whatever comes next.