President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Linda McMahon, a former pro-wrestling mogul and former administrator of the Small Business Administration, as his pick for education secretary. McMahon, who has been a strong supporter of Trump and his policies, is set to take the helm of a department that Trump has proposed abolishing.
In a statement, Trump praised McMahon for her work advocating for parents' rights and pushing for universal school choice in 12 states. McMahon, who also served on the Connecticut Board of Education and the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University, is relatively unknown in education circles but has expressed support for charter schools and school choice.
McMahon, who co-founded and led the WWE professional wrestling franchise, resigned from the SBA in 2019 to lead the pro-Trump spending group America First Action. She currently chairs the America First Policy Institute, a think-tank aligned with Trump's policies.
While McMahon had been considered for the role of commerce secretary, Trump ultimately chose Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, for that position. McMahon's appointment to lead the Education Department comes amidst speculation about Trump's intentions to abolish the department, though he would likely need congressional approval to do so.
Overall, McMahon's selection as education secretary reflects Trump's continued focus on school choice and his loyalty to supporters who have been with him since his first presidential campaign almost a decade ago. As McMahon prepares to take on her new role, her background in business and advocacy for parents' rights will likely shape her approach to education policy in the coming years.