Linda McMahon’s Unexpected Journey to Trump’s Education Cabinet

Linda McMahon, the billionaire co-founder of WWE and a close Trump ally, has been nominated as education secretary by the president-elect. McMahon, who also chaired Trump’s transition team after donating $814,600 to his campaign in July 2024, has little experience in education. Her only relevant role was a brief stint on Connecticut’s State Board of Education.

Trump, in his statement, praised her as a champion for parental rights, committed to expanding school choice and returning education control to the states. On Truth Social, he highlighted her leadership skills, saying she would use her experience in business and policy to shape the future of education.

McMahon’s selection has drawn criticism for prioritizing loyalty over expertise, a concern amplified by Trump’s recent choice of Mehmet Oz to oversee Medicare and Medicaid. While McMahon has supported Trump strongly, she has also called out his past comments about women, describing them as “deplorable” and “over the top” during his 2016 campaign.

After stepping down from WWE, McMahon ran for Senate twice, losing both races. She now chairs the America First Policy Institute, advocating for parental rights. However, her past isn’t without controversy—she and her husband, Vince McMahon, were named in a lawsuit alleging they failed to address abuse within WWE, accusations their lawyer has denied as “absurd and meritless.”

Her nomination comes at a challenging time, with ongoing debates over student loans, school choice, and the future of the Department of Education itself. McMahon’s lack of expertise and Trump’s broader plans for the department make the road ahead uncertain.