What is the role of Alina Habba in the Trump administration?

In 2021, Alina Habba, a New Jersey-based attorney, gained national attention as President-elect Trump's legal defender and spokesperson during his legal battles and criminal charges before his victory against Vice President Kamala Harris last month.

Trump's second administration has appointed Habba as counselor to the president.

"Alina has been a tireless advocate for Justice, a fierce Defender of the Rule of Law, and an invaluable Advisor to my Campaign and Transition Team," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social last week, announcing her new role. "She has been unwavering in her loyalty and unmatched in her resolve, standing with me through numerous 'trials, battles, and countless days in court.'"

After the once and future president's announcement, Planet Chronicle Digital examined Habba's legal career and rapid ascent in Trump's circle, ultimately leading to the White House.

Habba Madaio & Associates LLP, a law firm based in Bedminster, New Jersey, is managed by Habba, who is the managing partner. Habba, 40, is a New Jersey native born to Chaldean Catholic Iraqi immigrant parents. She attended Lehigh University in Pennsylvania as an undergraduate and later earned her J.D. from Widener University.

In her RNC speech in July from Milwaukee, Habba declared that as a devout Catholic, a proud first generation Arab American woman, and a feisty Jersey girl who's fed up with far-left corruption in Washington, President Trump championed her journey, empowering her to become who she is today. His unwavering support not only shaped her career but has inspired other young women with big dreams.

Prior to joining Trump's legal team, Habba represented nursing homes in negligence cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was recognized as a Rising Star on the Super Lawyers list from 2016 to 2022 and was included in the "Top 100 Lawyers in America" list. Additionally, she has supported various charitable causes, including one that benefits pregnant homeless women, Birth Haven.

In recent years, Trump hired Habba to help litigate cases against him and she rose to national prominence, becoming his legal spokesperson and trusted adviser.

In 2018, Habba hit the Trump legal scene by spearheading a lawsuit against the former and upcoming president's niece, Mary Trump, and the New York Times for "tortiously breaching and/or interfering with his contractual rights and otherwise maliciously conspiring against him" to obtain and publish his tax records.

Trump's legal successes include Summer Zervos dropping a defamation suit against him in 2021, the dismissal of a case related to New York state-level charges over allegations Trump and the Trump Organization were involved in a fraudulent marketing company, and a win earlier this year when the Supreme Court dismissed ex-lawyer Michael Cohen's appeal to revive a lawsuit against Trump as he sought monetary damages over his 2020 imprisonment related to lying to Congress and his previous work for Trump.

In October, Habba stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that Michael Cohen had exhausted all options in his attempt to bring her client into court, and the Supreme Court had correctly denied his petition, forcing him to abandon his frivolous and desperate claims.

As Trump faced legal battles with E. Jean Carroll, Habba's national recognition increased.

Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist, has filed two lawsuits against Trump since 2019, accusing him of raping her in a book excerpt. Trump denied the allegation, saying it never happened, leading Carroll to sue him for defamation. At the time, she was unable to sue him over the underlying rape allegation due to the statute of limitations.

In 2022, Carroll filed a lawsuit alleging defamation and rape against Trump, who continued to deny ever meeting her. This was possible due to a New York law that allowed sex abuse plaintiffs to file a one-time civil case even after the statute of limitations had expired.

Trump's legal team welcomed Habba for the second time, as they defended the former president against rape and defamation charges in a case where Trump denied the allegations and accused Carroll of spreading a "hoax and a lie" through social media posts.

Despite not being charged with sexual assault, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse by the jury, though not for rape. The jury clarified that Carroll had not proven that Trump raped her.

In 2019, when Trump was still president, the second case sought more than $10 million for damage to her reputation resulting from his comments. The jury ultimately awarded her $18.3 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages.

"I have been on trial for months in New York, and now, Attorney General Letitia James, due to President Trump's rising polls, we see the consequences," Habba stated earlier this year after the verdict.

"Therefore, it is not to be misunderstood," she stated, labeling the case as a "violation of our justice system." "I am proud to support President Trump. However, I am not proud of what I witnessed in that courtroom."

Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, refused to dismiss Trump's high-profile civil fraud suit after his electoral win.

An investigation into the Trump Organization was announced by James, who claimed to have found evidence suggesting that the president and his company had overvalued assets in order to secure loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions.

In courtroom, press conferences, and media interviews, Habba defended Trump against James' allegations.

Letitia James is using a consumer fraud law to exert control over private companies and individuals, despite the law not being intended for such purposes. This is a violation of privacy and should not be allowed. The judge in the case has proven to be motivated by the other side, which is a concern.

Trump and his legal team accused James of conducting a "witch hunt" against him, while Trump and his family denied any wrongdoing and claimed that their assets had been undervalued.

In September of the previous year, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron decided in a non-jury trial that Trump and his organization had misled lenders by inflating the value of his assets and overstating his net worth. Despite his team's request for her to dismiss the case after his election in November, she rejected it on December 10th.

Since Habba was appointed as the president's counselor, conservatives and Trump supporters have praised Habba's passionate defense of him.

President Trump has been targeted with lies and judges, AGs, and DAs who have run in this city and others on getting Trump, as Habba stated during a press conference in January following the Carroll verdict, summarizing the numerous court cases Trump faced following his first administration.

The Trump administration will address this issue. We will put an end to Kamala Harris's administration – as she was present, let us not forget, and she remains – of appointing White House officials to district attorneys' and attorney general's offices, and targeting political opponents.

In July, Habba delivered a powerful speech at the RNC following Trump's first assassination attempt, which has been revived this month for its emotional tone when she described her tight relationship with Trump.

From the RNC, she stated: "My husband, whose family survived the Holocaust, sees [Trump] as a champion of the Jewish faith. Meanwhile, my Iraqi parents view him as a mentor to their daughter."

"But to me, he is my friend."

In Trump's first administration, Kellyanne Conway, a Planet Chronicle contributor, held the counselor to the president role, which involves advising the president on all legal matters related to the office of the president and the White House.

Last week, on Planet Chronicle' Martha MacCallum, Habba discussed her new role's focus, which is "all things that we need to do to fix this country."

Habba stated that serving this country in any role, whether honorable or not, is a responsibility he takes seriously. He told the president that he is ready to do whatever is needed and that it is an honor to advise on important policies. Although lawfare and other issues are top of mind for him due to the last three and a half years, he is ready to work on all things necessary to fix the country.

This report was contributed to by Anders Hagstrom, Brooke Singman, and Greg Wehner of Planet Chronicle Digital.