Counselor to the President

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Counselor to the President
Incumbent
Peter Navarro
since January 20, 2025
Executive Office of the President
White House Office
Reports toPresident of the United States
AppointerPresident of the United States
FormationJanuary 20, 1969 (1969-01-20)
First holderArthur F. Burns
WebsiteThe White House

Counselor to the President is a title used by high-ranking political advisors to the president of the United States and senior members of the White House Office.

The current officeholder is Peter Navarro. The position should not be confused with that of White House counsel, who is an appointed chief legal advisor to the president and the White House.

History

The position was created during the administration of Richard Nixon, where it was assigned cabinet rank. It remained a cabinet-level position until 1993.[1]

During Nixon's presidency, eight people held the position, with there sometimes being two or three concurrent incumbents.

During the presidency of Gerald Ford, the post was shared by longtime communications advisor Robert T. Hartmann and national security aide John O. Marsh, with former United States secretary of commerce Rogers Morton briefly joining them as a domestic policy advisor in early 1976.

The position was vacant during the Jimmy Carter administration, as Carter initially left many senior White House positions unfilled (such as White House chief of staff) and preferred a smaller corps of advisors.[2]

Edwin Meese held the position during the first term of President Ronald Reagan, and was highly influential inside the White House. Meese, Chief of Staff James Baker and Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver were nicknamed "the troika" and considered the most influential advisors to the president.[3] Meese became United States attorney general during Reagan's second term as president and the position was left vacant.

The position was left vacant in the first three years of President George H. W. Bush's term. In 1992, it was filled by Clayton Yeutter following his resignation as chairman of the Republican National Committee.

During the Bill Clinton administration, the post became much more focused on communications. Two of Clinton's counselors, David Gergen and Paul Begala, later became CNN political analysts.

During the administration of George W. Bush, the position oversaw the communications, media affairs, speechwriting, and press offices.[4]

Under the Obama administration, the position was initially abolished and the duties of the office transferred to three senior advisors: David Axelrod,[5][6] Pete Rouse,[6][7] and Valerie Jarrett,[8] who also held the title Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison.[6] On January 6, 2011, President Obama appointed Rouse as counselor to the president where he was responsible for assisting the president and chief of staff with the day-to-day management of White House staff operations.[9][10] John Podesta was the last person to hold the position before he left to join the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign of 2016 as chairman.[11]

Soon after the 2016 election, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to name his campaign manager during the general election, Kellyanne Conway, to the position[12] and his campaign CEO Steve Bannon as a senior counselor and chief strategist.[13] With equivalent standing to the chief of staff and a portfolio that hewed closely to the pre-Clinton iteration of the position, Bannon was named to the Principals Committee of the National Security Council in a January 2017 executive order that also removed the director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from the committee.[14] Following vociferous public opposition to the decision, Trump removed Bannon from the council in April 2017.[15]

After Bannon's departure from the White House in August 2017, Johnny DeStefano was appointed to the job[16] in February 2018, with responsibility for overseeing the offices of presidential personnel, political affairs, and public liaison.

In February 2020, it was announced that former White House communications director Hope Hicks would return to the White House Office in the role.[17] In May 2020, White House staff secretary Derek Lyons was also given the title of counselor.[18]

President Joe Biden named Steve Ricchetti, the chairman of his 2020 presidential campaign, as counselor to the president upon taking office.[19] Jeffrey Zients was also given the title in his role as White House coronavirus response coordinator.[20]

List of counselors to the president

Counselors to the President were Cabinet-level officials under Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush. Jimmy Carter did not name any White House staff as counselor.

Name Start End Portfolio Party Appointer Ref(s)
Arthur Burns Arthur F. Burns
(1904–1987)		 January 20, 1969 November 5, 1969 Domestic Policy Republican Richard Nixon
(1969–1974)
Bryce Harlow Bryce Harlow
(1916–1987)		 November 5, 1969 December 9, 1970 Legislative and Congressional Affairs [21][22]
Pat Moynihan Pat Moynihan
(1927–2003)		 November 5, 1969 December 31, 1970 Family Assistance Plan Democratic [21][23]
Robert Finch Robert Finch
(1925–1995)		 June 23, 1970 December 15, 1972 Republican [24][25]
Donald Rumsfeld Donald Rumsfeld
(1932–2021)		 December 11, 1970 October 15, 1971 Economic Policy and Advisement [26]
Anne Armstrong Anne Armstrong
(1927–2008)		 January 19, 1973 December 18, 1974 Women's Programs
Dean Burch
(1927–1991)		 March 8, 1974 December 31, 1974 [27][28]
Kenneth Rush Kenneth Rush
(1910–1994)		 May 29, 1974 September 19, 1974 Economic Policy [29][30]
Bob Hartmann
(1917–2008)		 August 9, 1974 January 20, 1977 Presidential Speeches, Statements, Messages and Correspondences Gerald Ford
(1974–1977)		 [31]
John O. Marsh John Marsh
(1926–2019)		 August 9, 1974 January 20, 1977 Democratic [32][33]
Rogers Morton
(1914–1979)		 February 2, 1976 April 1, 1976 Domestic and Economic Policy Republican [34]
Edwin Meese Edwin Meese
(born 1931)		 January 20, 1981 February 25, 1985 Domestic Policy
National Security Council		 Ronald Reagan
(1981–1989)
Clayton Yeutter Clayton Yeutter
(1930–2017)		 February 1, 1992 January 20, 1993 Domestic Policy George H. Bush
(1989–1993)
David Gergen David Gergen
(1942–2025)		 May 29, 1993 June 10, 1994 Foreign Affairs Bill Clinton
(1993–2001)
Mack McLarty Mack McLarty
(born 1946)		 July 17, 1994 June 30, 1998 National Economic Council
Special Envoy to the Americas		 Democratic [35][36]
Bill Curry
(born 1951)		 February 21, 1995 January 20, 1997 Domestic Strategy
Paul Begala Paul Begala
(born 1961)		 August 17, 1997 March 10, 1999 Policy, Politics, and Communications [37]
Ann Lewis
(born 1937)		 March 10, 1999 January 20, 2001 Communications
Karen Hughes Karen Hughes
(born 1956)		 January 20, 2001 July 8, 2002 Communications, Media Affairs, Speechwriting, and Press Republican George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
Dan Bartlett Dan Bartlett
(born 1971)		 January 5, 2005 July 5, 2007 Strategic Communication and Policy
Ed Gillespie Ed Gillespie
(born 1961)		 July 5, 2007 January 20, 2009 Policy Development and Strategic Planning
Pete Rouse Pete Rouse
(born 1946)		 January 13, 2011 January 1, 2014 Legislative Affairs Democratic Barack Obama
(2009–2017)
JohnPodesta John Podesta
(born 1949)		 January 1, 2014 February 13, 2015 Climate and Energy
Steve Bannon Steve Bannon
(born 1953)		 January 20, 2017 August 18, 2017 Political Strategy
(as Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor)		 Republican Donald Trump
(2017–2021)		 [38][39][40]
Kellyanne Conway Kellyanne Conway
(born 1967)		 January 20, 2017 August 31, 2020 Political and Polling Strategy
(as Senior Counselor)		 [38][39][41]
Johnny DeStefano Johnny DeStefano
(born 1979)		 February 9, 2018 May 24, 2019 Intergovernmental Affairs and Political Affairs [42][43]
Hope Hicks Hope Hicks
(born 1988)		 March 9, 2020 January 12, 2021 Strategic Communications [44][45][46]
Derek Lyons Derek Lyons May 20, 2020 January 20, 2021 Domestic Policy [47][48]
Steve Ricchetti Steve Ricchetti
(born c. 1957)		 January 20, 2021 January 20, 2025 Legislative and Governmental Relations Democratic Joe Biden
(2021–2025)
Jeff Zients Jeff Zients
(born 1966)		 January 20, 2021 April 4, 2022 COVID Response Coordination
Alina Habba
(born 1984)		 January 20, 2025 March 24, 2025 Senior Counselor Republican Donald Trump
(2025–present)		 [49]
Peter Navarro
(born 1949)		 January 20, 2025 present Trade and Manufacturing (as Senior Counselor) [39]
Stanley Woodward
(born 1983)		 January 20, 2025 November 14, 2025 Senior Counselor [39]

See also

References

  1. "Clayton Yeutter's Obituary". The Washington Post.
  2. Walsh, Edward; article, Washington Post Staff Writer; Washington Post staff writer Robert G. Kaiser contributed to this (January 15, 1977). "Carter Names 12 Key Staff Aides". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 24, 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "The Presidential Troika". The New York Times. April 19, 1981. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  4. "Former Counselor to the President, Dan Bartlett's Biography". whitehouse.gov. October 22, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2016 – via National Archives.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden announce key White House staff | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team". Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2009.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett". White House. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  9. "Obama Picks William Daley As Chief Of Staff". NPR. January 6, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  10. "Daley's duties". Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  11. "Counselor to the President John Podesta". White House. Archived from the original on October 1, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  12. "Trump Picks Kellyanne Conway to Serve as Counselor to the President". Politico. December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  13. "Trump's Pick of Steve Bannon as Chief Strategist Sparks Backlash". NBC News. November 14, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  14. Thrush, Glenn; Haberman, Maggie (January 30, 2017). "Bannon is Given Security Role Usually Held for Generals". The New York Times.
  15. "Steve Bannon loses National Security Council seat". BBC News. April 5, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  16. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Appointments for the Executive Office of the President". whitehouse.gov. February 9, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2019 – via National Archives.
  17. Haberman, Maggie (February 13, 2020). "Hope Hicks to Return to the White House After a Nearly Two-Year Absence". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  18. Samuels, Brett (May 21, 2020). "Trump taps Brooke Rollins as acting domestic policy chief". The Hill. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  19. Shear, Michael D.; Glueck, Katie (November 17, 2020). "Biden to Name Campaign Manager, Congressional Ally, and Close Friend to Key Staff Jobs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  20. "President-elect Joe Biden Announces Key Members of Health Team". Politico (Press release). Biden-Harris Transition. December 7, 2020. p. 1. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  21. Archived October 23, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  22. "Harlow Resigns As Aide to Nixon; Will Return to Lobbyist Post". The New York Times. December 10, 1970. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  23. "White House Farewell". The New York Times. December 31, 1970. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  24. Reston, James (June 10, 1970). "Finch and the Postwar Economy". The New York Times. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  25. Los Angeles Times
  26. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/10/16/archives/tax-aide-chosen-to-head-enforcement-of-phase–2-tax-official-is.html
  27. Brown, Les (March 6, 1974). "Burch Under Senate Pressure to Step Up FCC Departure 3 Vacancies". The New York Times. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  28. Krebs, Albin (December 3, 1974). "Burch Resigning as White House Adviser Notes on People". The New York Times. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  29. "Rush Sworn as Counselor to President on Economy". The New York Times. May 30, 1974. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  30. "Kenneth Rush - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". History.state.gov. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  31. Dennis Hevesi (April 19, 2008). "Robert Hartmann, 91, Dies; Wrote Ford's Noted Talk". The New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  32. "Ford Bids Cabinet and Agency Heads Remain in Post Indefinite Stays". The New York Times. August 11, 1974. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  33. "Ford Making Plans For Handing Over Controls to Carter". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  34. "Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum". www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov.
  35. NELSON, JACK (June 28, 1994). "Panetta Named Chief of Staff in Major White House Shake-Up : Presidency: Clinton's friend McLarty will step aside and become the counselor to the President. Gergen will move to State Dept. and Rivlin will be a budget director in effort to add 'strength, vitality.'". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  36. Broder, John M. (April 25, 1998). "President's Friend Is Leaving White House for Private Life". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  37. "News Summary". The New York Times. August 17, 1997. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  38. "Executive Office Of The President Annual Report To Congress On White House Office Personnel White House Office As Of: Friday, June 30, 2017" (PDF). whitehouse.gov. p. 3 – via National Archives.
  39. Senior Counselor
  40. "Bannon out as White House chief strategist". Politico. August 18, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  41. "Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls)". twitter.com.
  42. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Appointments for the Executive Office of the President". whitehouse.gov. February 9, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018 – via National Archives.
  43. Dawsey, Josh; Sonmez, Felicia (May 21, 2019). "Long-serving Trump aide DeStefano to depart White House". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  44. Cook, Nancy; McGraw, Meredith (April 27, 2020). "Trump looks to Hope Hicks as coronavirus crisis spills over". Politico. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  45. "Hope Hicks to Return to the White House After a Nearly Two-Year Absence". The New York Times. February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  46. Brown, Pamela; Gangel, Jamie (January 13, 2021). "Top White House adviser Hicks no longer works at the White House, a previously planned departure". CNN. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  47. "Trump taps Brooke Rollins as acting domestic policy chief". May 21, 2020.
  48. "Annual Report to Congress on White House Office Personnel" (PDF). whitehouse.gov. June 26, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020 – via National Archives.
  49. Reflects date Habba became interim United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Habba is not listed as a Senior Counselor in the White House Annual Report to Congress on White House Office Personnel dated July 1, 2025.