Another powerful top Trump aide to exit the White House after string of departures

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By CHARLIE SPIERING, US POLITICAL REPORTER

Published: 13:46 EDT, 18 August 2026 | Updated: 20:01 EDT, 18 August 2026

Another top White House staffer is departing 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue after a string of high-profile exits. 

President Donald Trump announced that he will appoint White House associate counsel Samuel D Adkisson to the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. 

The departure of Adkisson marks a second prominent exit from the president’s legal team after lead Counsel David Worthington announced his departure last week.

'Sam has exemplified Wisdom and Courage, loves the Constitution, and will always defend the wonderful people of Tennessee,' Trump wrote on Truth Social, announcing the news. 

The president praised Adkisson for his work in the ‘Slaughter case,’ in a post on social media making the announcement, referring to the administration’s defense of Trump’s decision to fire Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya.

Slaughter filed a lawsuit to challenge Trump in a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

Adkisson and the White House counsel office defended the president’s decision citing Trump’s Article II authorities.

The Supreme Court backed the president’s decision, citing his executive authority over the FTC, on the legal grounds that it is an agency that wields executive power.

President Donald Trump appointed Samuel D Adkisson to the US District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee 

Adkisson will leave the White House and return to Tennessee to serve as a judge

It was not immediately clear who the president plans to replace Adkisson in the White House counsel's office.

The news Adkisson's appointment was celebrated by Republican Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee.

'He will bring Volunteer State values to the bench and uphold the high standards of our federal judiciary,' he wrote on social media. 'I will work tirelessly towards his prompt confirmation.'

Adkisson's departure is the latest Trump official to leave the White House prior to the midterm elections as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced her decision to leave at the end of August. Deputy National Security adviser Andy Baker also announced his plan to leave in August as well as Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson. 

Last week, the president appointed State Secretary Will Scharf to replace Worthington, who is expected to enter the private sector.

'Will Scharf will do a great job as White House Counsel!' he added.

As staff secretary, Scharf was tasked with managing legal memos, documents and statements that require the President's attention.

Trump has taken a personal liking to Scharf, whose unassuming demeanor and professionalism fit the president's vision of 'a star,' and asked him to appear on camera during public signing ceremonies to announce his executive orders.

Prior to his service in Trump's second term, Scharf served on the president's personal legal team and helped lead on the Supreme Court case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith.