President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Will Scharf will serve as the new White House Counsel and assistant to the President [1].
The appointment signals a significant reshuffle of the administration's top legal advisory role. By elevating Scharf, a conservative lawyer, the president is adjusting the leadership of the office responsible for providing legal guidance to the executive branch [1], [2].
Scharf currently serves as the White House staff secretary [1]. He will replace David Warrington in the role of White House Counsel [1]. The transition is scheduled to take effect on Sept. 1, 2026 [3].
Trump said the move was a shake-up of the key legal role [2], [3]. Scharf has previously served as a personal attorney to the president, bringing a history of direct legal representation to the official government position [4].
The White House Counsel oversees a wide array of legal matters, including ethics compliance, appointments, and the administration's response to legal challenges. Scharf's transition from staff secretary to counsel moves him from a role managing the flow of information to the president into a role managing the legal risks of the presidency [1], [5].
This personnel change occurs as the administration continues to navigate complex legal landscapes in Washington, D.C. The appointment ensures that a trusted legal ally remains in one of the most influential positions within the West Wing [1], [2].
“Will Scharf will replace David Warrington as White House Counsel”
The appointment of Will Scharf represents a consolidation of trust within the president's inner circle. By moving a former personal attorney into the role of White House Counsel, the administration is prioritizing legal loyalty and ideological alignment over traditional bureaucratic continuity. This shift may influence how the White House handles upcoming legal disputes and executive orders.
