Trump taps John Sauer for US Solicitor General

The president-elect announced in a statement on Thursday evening, "John is a deeply accomplished, masterful appellate attorney, who clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia in the United States Supreme Court, served as Solicitor General of Missouri for six years, and has extensive experience practicing before the US Supreme Court and other Appellate Courts."

The US Solicitor General oversees and "conduct[s] government litigation in the United States Supreme Court," per the Department of Justice. "Virtually all such litigation is channeled through the Office of the Solicitor General and is actively conducted by the Office. The United States is involved in approximately two-thirds of all the cases the US Supreme Court decides on the merits each year."

Sauer defended the president-elect in the Trump v. United States presidential immunity appeal in relation to special counsel Jack Smith's January 6 case that made its way up to the Supreme Court. The court decided that presidents have "absolute" immunity for core presidential actions but not unofficial actions. Additionally, for other official actions that the president performs which are not core to his or her responsibilities, SCOTUS ruled that the president has "at least presumptive immunity," but not absolute immunity with these actions.

The decision has led to delays in multiple legal battles against Trump, who said of the case in his statement for Sauer’s appointment, "John was the lead counsel representing me in the Supreme Court in Trump v. United States, winning a Historic Victory on Presidential Immunity, which was key to defeating the unConstitutional campaign of Lawfare against me and the entire MAGA Movement."

The president-elect concluded in his statement, "John was a Rhodes Scholar, graduated from Duke University, Oxford University and is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Harvard Law School. John will be a great Champion for us as we Make America Great Again!"

The appointment follows other picks to shake up the Department of Justice, one being now-former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who Trump chose for his Attorney General. He tapped John Blanche for Deputy Attorney General and named Emil Bove for the principal associate deputy attorney general position.