Donald Trump has selected Linda McMahon, the co-chair of his transition team, as his pick for Secretary of Education in his upcoming administration.
McMahon, a billionaire businesswoman and co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has been a prominent supporter of Trump throughout his political career, having served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) during Trump’s first term.
In a statement celebrating McMahon’s new role, Trump praised her leadership and contributions to his transition efforts, emphasizing her commitment to education reform.
“As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every state in America and empower parents to make the best education decisions for their families,” Trump declared. “We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”
McMahon’s appointment comes after her role as the chair of Trump’s 2024 campaign transition team, a position she took on in August.
As of July, McMahon had donated $814,600 to Trump’s re-election campaign. She has long been a significant figure in the political arena, having previously worked in Trump’s first administration, where she served as the SBA administrator from 2017 to 2019.
During that time, McMahon oversaw policies aimed at helping small businesses, including the administration’s response to the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to her work in the administration, McMahon has been a major fundraiser for Trump’s political efforts. She chaired America First Action, a super PAC that supported Trump’s 2020 re-election bid, raising $83 million in support of his campaign. McMahon also played a key financial role in Trump’s 2016 election, providing $6 million to help his candidacy after he secured the Republican nomination.
Before her deep involvement in politics, McMahon was best known for her leadership of WWE. She stepped down from her position as CEO of the company to pursue a political career. McMahon ran twice for a U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut, losing to Richard Blumenthal in 2010 and Chris Murphy in 2012.
Since 2021, McMahon has chaired the America First Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that supports Trump’s political agenda. She also chairs the institute’s Center for the American Worker, focusing on policies that aim to strengthen American labor and workforce development.
Although McMahon has limited experience in the field of education, her support for school choice and charter schools is well-documented. She served for one year on the Connecticut Board of Education, starting in 2009, and has expressed a lifelong interest in education, once aspiring to become a teacher before her career took another path. Additionally, McMahon served on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, which further highlights her involvement in educational initiatives.
Trump has long championed the idea of diminishing the role of the federal government in education. He has promised to close the Department of Education and return much of its power to state governments. While this ambitious goal remains uncertain, as it would require significant action from Congress to dismantle the agency, McMahon’s role as Education Secretary is central to this vision.
In another key appointment, Howard Lutnick, the billionaire founder of financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald, has been named as Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary. Lutnick, who co-chaired Trump’s transition team alongside McMahon, brings a wealth of business experience to the role, which will involve overseeing policies related to trade, economic development, and national commerce.
