Trump picks staff secretary Will Scharf as new White House counsel
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump announced that Will Scharf will become the new White House counsel starting September 1, replacing David Warrington, who is leaving for the private sector.
- Scharf, a former federal prosecutor and Trump-appointed head of the National Capital Planning Commission, has previously represented Trump in multiple cases, including before the Supreme Court.
- The White House counsel role is critical for advising on legal matters, managing presidential pardons, judicial appointments, and handling investigations into the administration ahead of the midterm elections.
- Scharf played a key role in confirming Trump’s judicial nominees and was part of Trump’s legal team in the election interference case overseen by special counsel Jack Smith.
- As chair of the National Capital Planning Commission, Scharf helped secure approval for Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project, which is currently under legal challenge after a federal appeals court ordered construction halted.