JUST IN: Trump Makes Major White House Staff Shakeup Ahead Of Midterms
President Donald Trump is making a major personnel move at the White House just weeks before the midterm elections, elevating longtime legal ally Will Scharf to serve as White House counsel.
Scharf, who had been serving as White House staff secretary, will replace David Warrington in one of the administration’s most important legal posts as Republicans brace for a possible wave of Democratic investigations if control of Congress shifts.
Trump announced the move Saturday and made clear he has confidence in Scharf.
‘I know Will well!’ Trump wrote on social media on Saturday, praising him as ‘tough, strong, and smart.’
Warrington is expected to leave the administration and return to the private sector.
Scharf, 40, has become one of Trump’s most trusted legal hands and previously represented him in major personal legal battles, including the Supreme Court fight tied to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s election interference case.
‘Will Scharf will do a great job as White House Counsel!’ Trump added.
As staff secretary, Scharf handled legal memos, policy documents and other materials requiring the president’s attention, giving him a front-row seat to the administration’s day-to-day operations.
He also became a familiar face during White House signing ceremonies, where Trump would often call on him to explain executive orders and legal actions to reporters.
The promotion places Scharf in a far more consequential role as the administration prepares for what could be a bruising political and legal fight after the midterms.
If Democrats capture the House, they are expected to use committee power aggressively against Donald Trump and his administration, setting up subpoenas, investigations and potential courtroom battles.
Scharf’s legal background makes him a natural fit for that fight.
Before joining Trump’s second administration, he served on the president’s personal legal team and helped lead work on the Supreme Court case involving Smith.
Scharf has also been appointed to the National Capital Planning Commission, where he has helped advance the legal case for Trump’s sweeping renovation plans across Washington.
Those projects have become a repeated target of liberal legal challenges as Trump pushes to reshape parts of the nation’s capital.
Scharf has not always simply rubber-stamped every proposal, however.
He previously raised concerns about suspending habeas corpus rights for illegal immigrants, drafting a memo warning that such a move could face major legal challenges.
He also drew attention in September after being caught on a hot mic joking that ‘our brand is crisis,’ a reference to the political comedy film starring Sandra Bullock.
Scharf is part of the so-called ‘Missouri Mafia,’ an informal circle of conservative legal and political figures from the state who now hold influential positions in Washington.
The group includes Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, Solicitor General John Sauer, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Jesus Osete and FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey.
Before entering the Trump orbit, Scharf served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Missouri and later ran unsuccessfully for Missouri attorney general in 2024.
His promotion gives Trump another battle-tested conservative lawyer in a top White House role at a moment when the administration is preparing for both a critical election and the possibility of renewed Democratic lawfare from Capitol Hill.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
