President-elect Donald Trump has selected Linda McMahon as his education secretary, appointing the former professional wrestling executive to head a department he has expressed intentions to dismantle.
“Over the past four years, as Chair of the Board at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), Linda has been a steadfast advocate for parental rights,” Trump stated. “Through her work at both AFPI and America First Works (AFW), she has championed universal school choice in 12 states, giving children access to quality education regardless of income or location.”
Trump emphasized that McMahon will work tirelessly to expand school choice initiatives across the United States.
McMahon, who had also been considered for the commerce secretary role, served as the head of the Small Business Administration (SBA) during Trump’s first term. A long-time ally and early donor to Trump’s political campaigns, she played a significant role in supporting his bid for the White House nearly a decade ago.
As the co-founder and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), McMahon transitioned from the private sector to public service, leaving the SBA in 2019 to lead America First Action, a pro-Trump political organization. Currently, she chairs the America First Policy Institute, a think tank aligned with Trump’s policy agenda.
In addition to her cabinet nomination, McMahon was tapped to co-lead Trump’s transition team, which was tasked with vetting candidates and shaping policies ahead of the November 5 election.
While McMahon had been a contender for the role of commerce secretary, Trump ultimately appointed her transition team co-leader, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, to that position.
Despite Trump’s campaign promises to abolish the Department of Education, such a move would require congressional approval—a challenge that may limit his ability to follow through on the proposal. McMahon is now set to lead the department, where she is expected to prioritize school choice and parental rights in education.
