President Donald Trump abruptly ejected a White House staffer from the Oval Office on Monday, August 25, 2025, after a noisy phone interrupted his remarks during an executive order signing ceremony. The incident occurred as Trump was addressing reporters’ questions about his administration’s decision to purchase a portion of Intel on behalf of the U.S. government.
The disruption happened mid-sentence as Trump was explaining market developments. Trump stated, “Hello, who is that? Who is that back there? Alright, get out of the room!” The president maintained a straight face while some attendees responded with laughter, and a door could be heard closing loudly afterward.
Multiple sources identify the ejected staffer as Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary responsible for handling Trump’s executive orders during signing ceremonies. Scharf serves as Trump’s executive order coordinator, presenting physical copies of directives to the president and explaining their significance during official events.
The interruption occurred during a lengthy session where Trump was signing multiple executive orders. Scharf had been standing next to the president moments before the incident, handling documents for Trump’s signature. Reports indicate uncertainty about whether the disruption was caused by a cell phone noise or the opening of a door during the press conference.
Scharf previously served as a member of Trump’s legal team before joining the current administration. He was also a candidate for Missouri attorney general, though unsuccessful in that bid. His role in the White House involves managing the procedural aspects of executive order signings and ensuring proper documentation during official ceremonies.
This incident represents a pattern of behavior for Trump regarding Oval Office disruptions. During his first presidential term in June 2019, Trump ordered acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to leave the room during a live ABC News interview with George Stephanopoulos after Mulvaney coughed while Trump was speaking. Trump told Mulvaney at that time that he did not appreciate the interruption and instructed him to leave if he needed to cough.
The August 25 ceremony was part of Trump’s continued focus on executive actions during his second term. The president was specifically discussing the stock market’s performance, noting gains of nearly 1,000 points on the preceding Friday, when the phone noise interrupted his explanation to reporters.
Video footage of the incident circulated on social media platforms, showing Trump’s immediate reaction to the disruption. Cabinet members present during the signing ceremony were heard laughing after Trump’s directive, though the president himself did not display any humor regarding the situation.
The incident also coincided with observations about Trump’s physical appearance during the ceremony. Multiple sources noted that the president appeared to have bruising on his hand during the executive order signing, which had been covered with makeup during previous public appearances. The White House previously attributed such bruising to frequent handshaking and the president’s use of aspirin as part of his cardiovascular prevention regimen.
Trump’s physician had previously diagnosed him with chronic venous insufficiency in July, describing it as a benign condition common in individuals over 70 years old. The condition can cause ankle swelling and other minor symptoms, though officials maintained that the president remains in excellent health overall.
The August 25 executive order signing ceremony continued after Scharf’s departure, with Trump proceeding to answer additional questions from the press corps. The incident highlights the president’s well-documented intolerance for interruptions during official proceedings, particularly when cameras are present to record the events.
