Trump Names Former Defense Attorney Will Scharf as White House Counsel

The transition occurs at a pivotal moment, with the administration facing potential congressional investigations should Republicans lose their legislative majority. As counsel, Scharf will serve as the primary liaison to the Justice Department, overseeing judicial appointments, presidential pardons, and the management of legal challenges brought against the president.

Scharf’s history with the president is extensive. He joined Trump’s legal team in October 2023, representing him in the election interference case led by special counsel Jack Smith—a case that eventually secured a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity. His previous work during Trump’s first term included facilitating the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Most recently, Scharf served as White House staff secretary, a role that placed him in the center of the executive decision-making process.

His appointment follows a pattern of rewarding legal defenders with high-ranking positions. Todd Blanche, who represented Trump during the New York hush money trial, was recently confirmed as attorney general. While Scharf also chaired the National Capital Planning Commission, his tenure there faced recent hurdles; a federal appeals court ordered a halt to his $400 million ballroom project, an order Trump has pledged to challenge at the Supreme Court.