President Trump is moving one of his most trusted aides from the ballroom fight to the White House legal shop.
Quick Take
- Trump said Will Scharf will become White House counsel on September 1.
- Scharf is already serving as White House staff secretary and assistant to the president.
- Trump said David Warrington will leave for the private sector.
- Reporting says Scharf helped secure approval for the White House ballroom project.
Trump Elevates Scharf to Top White House Lawyer
President Trump announced that Will Scharf will become White House counsel and assistant to the president, effective September 1. The move puts a close Trump ally in the administration’s top legal role at a time when the White House is still dealing with major policy fights and likely legal pressure.
Reuters reported that Scharf is the current White House staff secretary and that he has been overseeing the administrative work of the Oval Office. The same report said Scharf will become the White House’s top lawyer after the change takes effect. ABC News also reported that Trump said Scharf will replace David Warrington, who is leaving the administration for the private sector.
A Trusted Aide With a Long Legal Role
Scharf has already been part of Trump’s inner circle for years. A Trump statement from 2024 said he would serve as assistant to the president and White House staff secretary. Politico reported that Scharf was one of Trump’s personal attorneys and worked on major legal fights, including the federal election interference case and the Supreme Court immunity case.
That background matters because White House counsel is not a ceremonial job. It is the office that helps guide the president on legal and ethics issues, executive action, and internal White House risk. Putting a lawyer with deep Trump ties into that post signals that the president wants a counselor who knows his style, his legal battles, and the pace of his second term.
The Ballroom Connection Adds Political Weight
The new assignment also carries a political edge. ABC News said Scharf, as head of the National Capital Planning Commission, helped secure approval for the $400 million ballroom project. Reuters likewise reported that Scharf led the commission that approved the president’s construction of the White House ballroom. That ties the personnel move to one of the most visible building projects on the White House grounds.
Trump announces staff secretary Will Scharf will be his new White House counselhttps://t.co/72CYYZAxG6
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) August 10, 2026
For Trump supporters, the swap looks like another sign that the president is surrounding himself with loyal, experienced lawyers instead of bureaucrats who slow things down. For critics, it will likely raise fresh questions about how much power sits with a tight circle of trusted aides. Either way, the move is clear: Trump is putting a proven insider in the room before the September transition begins.
Sources:
mediaite.com, reuters.com, politico.com, stlpr.org
