President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he has chosen Linda McMahon to serve as the Secretary of Education. The announcement was made via Truth Social and followed speculation that McMahon would not be appointed as the Commerce Secretary. Earlier the same day, Trump selected Howard Lutnick, another co-chair of the transition team, for that position.
“It is my great honor to announce that Linda McMahon, former administrator of the Small Business Administration, will be the United States Secretary of Education,” Trump wrote.
McMahon held the position of head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term, where she served from 2017 until stepping down in 2019 to lead America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC, as reported by CNN. Presently, she chairs the America First Policy Institute, a think tank she co-established in 2021 alongside Larry Kudlow and other former Trump administration advisors.
The organization has garnered significant funding and is working on policy initiatives for a potential second Trump presidency, according to CNN. Prior to her political engagements, McMahon was the chief executive officer of WWE, which she co-founded with her spouse, Vince McMahon.
Under her stewardship, WWE transitioned from a small wrestling firm to a major publicly traded entertainment entity. She left her position as CEO in 2009, according to CNN. Additionally, McMahon has attempted two campaigns for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut, losing both times in 2010 and 2012.
Trump reportedly donated $5,000 to her 2012 campaign. As a prominent Republican supporter, McMahon contributed over $7 million to pro-Trump super PACs during the 2016 presidential election, as cited by Open Secrets.
Several key figures in education, including Chris Rufo, Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice, and school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis, have expressed interest in the role of Secretary of Education in the past.
