Trump nominates former fed prosecutor, personal attorney McDonald to serve as US attorney for SDNY

President Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate James M. McDonald, a veteran former federal prosecutor and one of his personal attorneys, to serve as the next U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. 

The Manhattan-based U.S. Attorney’s Office is one of the nation’s most prominent federal prosecutorial offices, handling cases involving public corruption, financial crimes, organized crime, terrorism, and national security.

McDonald is a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell and previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the SDNY. During Trump’s first term, he served as director of Enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He later joined Trump’s legal team and helped represent the president in appeals related to his 2024 New York criminal conviction.

“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 said in a Truth Social post announcing his intentions to nominate McDonald. “Good luck Jamie. I have no doubt about your future greatness!”

The nomination follows Trump’s selection of current SDNY U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for another administration role, director of the Office of National Intelligence. 

If confirmed by the Senate, McDonald would assume leadership of an office that has long played a major role in high-profile federal investigations and prosecutions.

McDonald’s nomination continues a pattern of Trump selecting attorneys who have represented him in private legal matters for senior government positions. 

Legal analysts suggest McDonald’s leadership could signal a shift in priorities for the SDNY, potentially affecting ongoing investigations and fostering closer alignment with the administration’s law enforcement agenda. 

The federal position is distinct from the elected local Manhattan District Attorney role. The current Manhattan DA is Alvin Bragg. Bragg gained national attention for prosecuting Trump in the hush money case, securing the first criminal conviction of a former U.S. president.

McDonald’s nomination will require Senate confirmation. Confirmation is expected to proceed smoothly given Republican control.