Will Scharf

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President Donald Trump signing executive orders (03).jpg
Scharf holding an executive order next to the president in the oval office
Trump Day 1 Executive Order Signing.jpg
Scharf holding a stack of executive orders at Capital One Arena during Trump's second inauguration

Scharf initially worked as an attorney in private practice. [3] In 2016, he joined Catherine Hanaway's campaign for Missouri governor. [4] After Hanaway lost to Eric Greitens in the primaries, Scharf joined Greitens's campaign for the general election race. [4] Upon Greitens winning and becoming governor of Missouri, Scharf was named his policy director. [4] Greitens resigned in 2018 and Scharf subsequently worked in New York and Washington, D.C. [5] In 2020, he became an assistant United States attorney, working in the violent crimes division for the city of St. Louis. [5]

Scharf worked for the confirmations of Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett for the United States Supreme Court. [6] He worked for the firm CRC Advisors, which helped choose court nominees for President Donald Trump. [6]

In 2023, Scharf announced his candidacy for the 2024 Missouri attorney general election, challenging Andrew Bailey for the Republican nomination. [5] In October 2023, he joined former President Trump's legal team, working on several of Trump's cases, including for the appeal of his gag orders, the appeal of Trump's civil fraud trial, and his presidential immunity case. [7] [8] [9] He made frequent television appearances defending Trump and was reported as playing a "major role" in the presidential immunity case, which resulted in the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the former president and giving absolute immunity for official acts as president. [6] [10]

Scharf was co-endorsed by Trump in his attorney general race. [11] He was defeated in the primary by Bailey. [12]

White House Staff Secretary (2025–present)

After Trump won the 2024 presidential election, he announced that Scharf would serve as Assistant to the President and White House Staff Secretary. [13] A statement released by Trump said that "Will is a highly skilled attorney who will be a crucial part of my White House team." [13]

Scharf has been a "prominent part of the tableau" of the second Trump White House, often depicted standing alongside the President and presenting him with executive orders and other documents during live press conferences. [14] Described as playing a primarily "behind the scenes role," though, his role involves "managing process and policy" and "directing how information and decisions flow through the highest office in the country." [15] He has been listed as one of the small number of White House aides with Oval Office walk-in privileges. [16]

In July 2025, Trump appointed Scharf as Chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal board that oversees federal construction in Washington. The NCPC has jurisdiction over Trump's White House State Ballroom project. Scharf controversially argued that the NCPC did not need to review plans for the demolition of the East Wing of the White House. [17]

References

  1. ↑ Kassal, Matthew (February 1, 2023). "Will Scharf steps up to run for Missouri AG". The Jewish Insider . Archived from the original on November 18, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  2. ↑ Jacobs, Emily (December 17, 2025). "Trump warns that Israel, 'Jewish lobby' have lost influence in D.C." Jewish Insider. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Scharf". Politico . August 16, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Krull, Ryan (February 1, 2023). "Now Running for Missouri AG: Will Scharf, an Outsider from Harvard Law". Riverfront Times . Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Holleman, Joe (February 1, 2023). "Will Scharf announces GOP bid for Missouri attorney general". St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 Samuels, Brett (November 16, 2024). "Trump names attorney Will Scharf to key White House job". The Hill . Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  7. ↑ Palermo, Greg (December 12, 2023). "Missouri AG candidate Scharf's role grows on Trump legal team". Spectrum News. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  8. ↑ Bayless, Kacen; Shorman, Jonathan (May 24, 2024). "Trump hangs over the GOP race for Missouri attorney general. Will he endorse his lawyer?". The Kansas City Star . Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ Nazarro, Miranda (May 30, 2024). "Trump attorney Will Scharf says he's 'considering all options' to appeal conviction". The Hill . Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  10. ↑ Deroschers, Daniel; Bayless, Kacen; Shorman, Jonathan (July 1, 2024). "Missouri AG candidate played key role in winning Trump's presidential acts immunity case at Supreme Court". The Kansas City Star .{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ "Trump endorses Bailey, Scharf in Missouri attorney general race". KMOV. July 30, 2024. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  12. ↑ Mueller, Julia (August 6, 2024). "Missouri attorney general beats back primary challenge from Trump lawyer". The Hill . Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  13. 1 2 Collins, Michael (November 16, 2024). "Trump taps personal defense attorney Will Scharf to serve in key White House position". USA Today . Archived from the original on November 16, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  14. ↑ Price, Michell A. (January 24, 2025). "Who's the guy handing Trump those binders of executive orders? Meet Will Scharf". Associated Press . Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  15. ↑ Staff (September 21, 2025). "25 ViZionaries: Will Scharf - No. 18". Jerusalem Post . Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ Cai, Sophia (February 14, 2025). "Who has Oval walk-in privileges?". Politico . Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  17. ↑ Edwards, Jonathan (October 28, 2025). "Trump put allies on obscure board set to decide White House ballroom's fate". Washington Post . Archived from the original on January 18, 2026. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
Will Scharf
The White House - 54442075013.jpg
White House Staff Secretary
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 20, 2025
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