A Deep Dive into Trump's SG Nominee – Dean John Sauer

As President Trump's next Solicitor General, Dean John Sauer is poised to redefine the office with a bold, unapologetic defense of conservative legal principles.

Who is Sauer?

Dean John Sauer has built a formidable legal career, spanning government service, private practice, and high-profile litigation. Born on November 13, 1974, he grew up in Missouri and attended Saint Louis Priory School before earning dual degrees in philosophy and electrical engineering from Duke University. His academic path then took him to Oxford’s Oriel College as a Rhodes Scholar, where he studied theology, followed by a Master’s in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. He capped off his education with a law degree from Harvard, where he served as an articles editor for the Harvard Law Review.

After law school, Sauer clerked for two of the most influential conservative judges in the country—Judge J. Michael Luttig of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. His career took him from private practice to serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Missouri before returning to private practice, where he handled high-stakes litigation, including successfully defending a falsely accused priest.

In 2017, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley appointed Sauer as the state's Solicitor General. He became a key legal strategist in Missouri’s major court battles, including signing the state’s motion to intervene in the Texas-led lawsuit seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. After a brief stint as Missouri’s Deputy Attorney General for Special Litigation in 2023, he stepped down but remained active in high-profile cases.

By 2024, Sauer was in the national spotlight, representing former President Donald Trump in arguments over presidential immunity. His success as a strong advocate conservative advocate, especially in defense of Trump before the United States Supreme Court earned him a nomination from Trump to serve as Solicitor General of the United States.

What Trump Said

When Trump announced Sauer’s nomination for the role of Solicitor General he wrote:

“I am pleased to announce that Dean John Sauer will serve as Solicitor General of the United States in my Administration. 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 U.S. Supreme Court and other Appellate Courts. Most recently, 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. 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!”

Representation in Trump v. United States (Oral Arguments)

Prior to Nomination he argued on behalf of Trump in Trump v. United States. Here are some of his responses to the main issues

Accountability and Criminal Prosecution of the President

Sauer argued that the president is accountable through other mechanisms, such as impeachment and oversight by Congress. He emphasized that historically, presidents have not been subject to criminal prosecution while in office, and this structure has served to prevent abuse. He also stated that such a regime, without the fear of prosecution, had been in place for 234 years.