President Donald Trump has selected James McDonald to lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, one of the most influential federal prosecutor’s offices in the United States.
The announcement came after Trump moved current U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to a new role, nominating him to serve as Director of National Intelligence following the departure of Tulsi Gabbard.
Often regarded as the nation’s most powerful federal prosecutorial office outside Washington, the Southern District of New York has built a reputation for handling some of the country’s most consequential cases involving financial misconduct, terrorism, organized crime, and public corruption. The Manhattan-based office has long been known for operating with a degree of independence that sets it apart from many other federal prosecutors’ offices.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump praised McDonald and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the office.
“I am confident that Jamie will deliver strong results for our Country as the next United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York,” Trump wrote, adding that McDonald enjoys broad respect among law enforcement officials, legal professionals, and members of the judiciary.
McDonald’s appointment will require confirmation by the U.S. Senate before he can formally assume the position.
A seasoned lawyer with experience in both government service and private practice, McDonald previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney and later led enforcement efforts at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He currently practices at the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, where Clayton also worked before taking charge of the Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office.
McDonald is also known for serving on Trump’s legal team during the criminal case involving payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. In that case, a New York jury found Trump guilty in 2024 of falsifying business records tied to payments intended to prevent damaging allegations from surfacing during the 2016 presidential campaign.
The nomination places McDonald in line to oversee one of the most closely watched prosecutorial offices in the country, an institution whose investigations frequently draw national attention and shape major legal and political debates.
