President Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon, ex-CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), to serve as the next Secretary of Education as part of his pledge to return education oversight to the states and dismantle the federal Department of Education.
In a statement, Trump described McMahon as a “fierce advocate for Parents’ Rights,” adding, “We will send education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”
McMahon, a long-time ally and co-chair of Trump’s transition team, is tasked with preparing for a potential second term, including filling approximately 4,000 government positions. Her qualifications in education include two years on the Connecticut Board of Education and 16 years as a trustee at Sacred Heart University, a private Catholic institution.
McMahon stepped away from WWE in 2009 to pursue a political career, including two unsuccessful bids for the U.S. Senate. Since 2021, she has chaired the Center for the American Worker at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank aligned with Trump’s vision.
Her relationship with Trump dates back to her time in professional wrestling, where she first met him as WWE’s chief executive. Their connection even extended into the entertainment world, with a now-famous staged wrestling event where Trump body-slammed her husband, Vince McMahon, and shaved his head in front of a live audience.
In 2017, McMahon was confirmed as Administrator of the Small Business Administration, where she oversaw initiatives supporting small businesses, which employ approximately half of the U.S. private-sector workforce. After leaving the role, she became chair of the pro-Trump America First Action Super PAC, further cementing her role in his political orbit.
Throughout his campaign, Trump has consistently reiterated his intention to eliminate the federal Department of Education, citing it as a critical goal for his return to the White House. Speaking at a rally in Wisconsin earlier this year, he declared, “We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education.”
McMahon, expressing her admiration for Trump at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, called him a “colleague, boss, and friend.” With her nomination, Trump is betting on her business acumen and advocacy for parental rights to lead sweeping education reforms, aligning with his broader vision of devolving federal power to the states.