Will Scharf Named White House Counsel — Trump Ally Behind Major Supreme Court Win

Will Scharf, currently the White House staff secretary, will become White House counsel on Sept. 1, succeeding David Warrington in the senior West Wing role. President Donald Trump praised Scharf, saying, "Will is tough, strong, and smart. He also loves our country, and respects the law," and predicted Scharf will do a "great job" in the position.

What the Role Will Entail

As White House counsel, Scharf will advise the President and senior staff on a broad range of legal issues, from Executive Orders and vetoes to questions about congressional authority and the President's war powers. The Center for Presidential Transition notes that advising on matters related to the President's exercise of war powers is a central counsel duty — a responsibility that has attracted renewed attention amid bipartisan criticism of the administration's handling of the Iran conflict.

Legal Background and Ties to Trump

A New York native and Harvard Law School graduate (class of 2011), Scharf clerked for two federal judges and served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Missouri from 2020 to 2022. He represented Donald Trump as a personal lawyer from 2023 to 2025 and was a member of the team that argued before the Supreme Court in 2024 over whether a sitting President enjoys immunity from prosecution for official acts.

The Supreme Court's 2024 ruling that Presidents have broad immunity for official acts was a significant victory for Trump's legal team; Scharf called the decision "a tremendous win for the Constitution" and said it was an "honor" to represent the former president, in comments to the Kansas City Star.

Politics and Public Profile

After his tenure as a federal prosecutor, Scharf ran for the Republican nomination for Missouri Attorney General in 2024, challenging incumbent Andrew Bailey. He emphasized his work in the Violent Crimes Unit and his involvement in advocating for conservative Supreme Court justices, telling voters, "I've put hardened criminals in prison, and I've put constitutional conservatives on the Supreme Court." Scharf lost the primary, receiving about 37% of the vote.

National Capital Planning Commission and the White House Ballroom

In July 2025, President Trump appointed Scharf as an at-large commissioner to the National Capital Planning Commission. In that role, Scharf has been a key defender of the administration's controversial $400 million White House ballroom plan, which requires demolition of part of the East Wing. Defending the proposal in April, Scharf argued that change to the White House is historically common, saying critics who claim the building should be frozen in time are ignoring its history.

Nonetheless, the ballroom project has faced legal obstacles. On Aug. 7, a federal appeals court ruled construction could not proceed without congressional authorization; the administration has said it intends to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court.

Looking Ahead

Scharf steps into the counsel role with a record as a federal prosecutor, a prominent advocate in high-profile litigation, and recent political ambitions. He will inherit legal responsibilities that are likely to include litigation strategy, internal White House legal guidance, and coordination with other executive branch lawyers during an era of heightened scrutiny and frequent legal challenges.