Trump names Jewish lawyer Will Scharf as next White House counsel
White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf, who is Jewish, will become White House counsel and assistant to President Donald Trump on September 1, Trump announced Sunday on Truth Social.
Trump said Scharf will replace David Warrington, who he praised for his work as White House counsel and on Trump’s presidential campaign. Warrington will move to the private sector.
Trump said Scharf has done an “amazing job” as staff secretary and also serves as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission. He noted that Scharf previously represented him in numerous cases, including before the Supreme Court, during what Trump called the Biden administration’s “corrupt and illegal campaign of Weaponization.” Scharf also previously worked as a federal prosecutor and private practice attorney, clerked for two federal appeals court judges, and attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
Trump described Scharf as “Tough, Strong, and Smart,” adding that he loves the country and respects the law.
Scharf was born into a Jewish family in New York City in 1986 and grew up in a Modern Orthodox household. He earned a BA in history from Princeton in 2008, where he was active in Chabad and the Center for Jewish Life and chaired the Chabad Student Board. He earned his JD from Harvard Law School in 2011.
Trump first named Scharf staff secretary on November 16, 2024, before the start of his second term. He managed executive orders awaiting the president’s signature. In July 2025, Trump also appointed him chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission.
