WASHINGTON — During his initial week in office, President Donald Trump has been energetically signing executive orders using a thick Sharpie, but these documents don’t just appear spontaneously.
Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary, plays a vital role in this process, standing by Trump’s side and presenting the ornate leather folders to him one after another. While cameras capture the moment, Scharf often narrates what is happening as Trump signs each document, occasionally leaning into a nearby microphone at the president’s suggestion.
On Thursday, Scharf accompanied Trump as he signed various orders and memoranda at the Oval Office’s Resolute Desk. Scharf was also present during the president’s return to power, attending events at the Capitol and a nearby rally while ensuring Trump had the necessary paperwork for his agenda at the White House.
Scharf’s role extends beyond simply presenting documents. He notably oversees the flow of information and manages the affairs that come to and from Trump.
Understanding the role of the staff secretary sheds light on the inner workings of the White House. This position has traditionally been responsible for handling the paperwork that arrives on the president’s desk, akin to air traffic control, managing the progression of memos and statements until they reach Trump’s desk and subsequently the public.
The staff secretary coordinates efforts among various White House teams, including policy, communications, and legal departments, ensuring information circulates efficiently. Typically, this role is seen as a neutral facilitator during policy discussions.
Will Scharf is not new to the political sphere; prior to assuming his current position, he was part of Trump’s legal team. He has experience as a policy director for former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens and worked on the campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Catherine Hanaway in 2016.
A graduate of both Princeton and Harvard Law School, Scharf moved to Missouri in 2011 to serve as a law clerk for Judge Raymond Gruender of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. He has also worked as an assistant U.S. attorney.
In November, Trump appointed Scharf as staff secretary, recognizing his legal expertise and valuable contributions during Trump’s initial presidency, particularly in securing judicial confirmations including U.S. Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
Scharf has also been actively involved in Trump’s legal challenges, joining the team in October 2023 for the election interference case led by special counsel Jack Smith. This case made its way to the Supreme Court, which concluded that presidents have significant immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken in their official capacity.
Along with Scharf, other lawyers who defended Trump have been appointed to key positions in the new administration, such as Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who played significant roles during Trump’s hush money trial in New York.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Scharf, describing him as a brilliant legal expert with ample experience defending Trump against numerous allegations. She stated, “Will is perfectly suited to help execute President Trump’s agenda in this important role.”
Scharf’s visibility is not a new experience; he has appeared on cable news and authored opinion pieces emphasizing Trump’s legal issues. In 2023, he co-founded a group called Jews Against Soros with Newsweek senior editor Josh Hammer, which aimed to argue against the claim that criticisms of George Soros, the prominent Democratic financier, are inherently antisemitic.
In 2024, Scharf ran for the position of Missouri attorney general, but he was unsuccessful, losing to Andrew Bailey, the incumbent. His campaign included a notable advertisement featuring him in a grenade launcher scenario, humorously suggesting he would obliterate boxes filled with legal documents associated with Trump’s legal troubles.
