Trump Names Linda McMahon For Education Secretary. All About The WWE Co-Founder – News18
Last Updated:
Trump praised the wrestling mogul and said her knowledge in education and business will empower the younger generation
Vice President Mike Pence swears in Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon, joined by her six grandchildren in 2017. (File photo | AP)
US President-elect Donald Trump has named his transition co-chair and wrestling billionaire Linda McMahon for the secretary post of the education department.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump selected Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, as his choice to lead the Commerce Department. This followed Lutnick’s earlier suggestion of himself for the role of Treasury Secretary, which ignited a rivalry with hedge fund manager Scott Bessent.
In a statement, Trump praised Linda, saying, “With her decades of leadership experience and deep understanding of both education and business, Linda will empower the next generation of American students and workers, helping to make America the global leader in education. We will return control of education to the states, and Linda will lead that effort.”
Here’s an overview of Linda McMahon’s journey from business to politics.
Personal Life and Startup
McMahon is married to Vince McMahon, whose father was a well-known professional wrestling promoter. The couple followed in his footsteps by founding their own company, which is now recognized as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Under their leadership, WWE grew into a dominant force in both the wrestling industry and American pop culture.
In 2007, when Trump was starring on The Apprentice, he made a guest appearance at WrestleMania, participating in a highly staged rivalry that culminated in Trump shaving Vince McMahon’s head in the ring.
Political Career
Linda McMahon resigned from her position as CEO of WWE to pursue a career in politics. She ran twice for a U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut, losing to Richard Blumenthal in 2010 and Chris Murphy in 2012. Afterward, she shifted her focus to supporting other political candidates, contributing $6 million to back Trump’s campaign once he secured the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
Interest in Education
McMahon served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009, where she shared that she had always been interested in education and had originally planned to become a teacher before her marriage. She also served on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. While McMahon is not widely known in educational circles, she has shown support for charter schools and school choice.
Small Business Administration
A month after Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton, McMahon was appointed head of the Small Business Administration, an agency that provides loans and disaster relief to businesses and enforces compliance with government contracts. At the time, McMahon received praise from Blumenthal and Murphy, who had defeated her in the Senate races. Blumenthal called her “a person of serious accomplishment and ability,” while Murphy praised her as a “talented and experienced businessperson.”
Unlike other members of Trump’s first administration, McMahon was largely free from scandal or controversy. She became a vocal advocate for Trump’s trade and tax policies. When she left the administration in 2019, Trump described her as “a superstar,” adding, “I knew she was good, but I didn’t know she was that good.”
Post-Administration Involvement
Even after leaving the administration, McMahon remained close to Trump. She chaired America First Action, a super PAC that supported Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign, which he ultimately lost to Joe Biden. McMahon also helped launch the America First Policy Institute to continue promoting Trump’s policies and prepare for a potential future White House bid.
During Trump’s latest presidential run, McMahon co-chaired his transition team alongside Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald. As part of her role, she has been involved in planning Trump’s new administration.
Should Trump take office again, McMahon’s most significant task may be overseeing the dismantling of the very agency she once led. Trump has vowed to eliminate the Education Department and return its responsibilities to the states, a move that would require congressional action to achieve.
(With inputs from CNN, AP)
Discover more from Divya Bharat 🇮🇳
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
