Trump nominates Linda McMahon for education secretary

Trump named his other transition co-chairman, Howard Lutnick, for commerce secretary earlier Tuesday.

In a statement released Tuesday night, Trump praised McMahon and said she will lead efforts “to send education back to the states.”

“Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students and Workers, and make America Number One in Education in the World. We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort,” Trump said.

He also called her a “fierce advocate for Parents’ Rights.”

“For the past four years, as the Chair of the Board at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), Linda has been a fierce advocate for Parents’ Rights, working hard at both AFPI and America First Works (AFW) to achieve Universal School Choice in 12 States, giving children the opportunity to receive an excellent Education, regardless of zip code or income,” Trump said. “As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families.”

McMahon previously worked in the last Trump administration as the administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019, when she resigned to lead America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC.

The former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment donated at least $10 million to Trump’s successful 2024 election campaign and has supported Trump with millions of dollars in donations in his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. She co-founded World Wrestling Entertainment with her husband, Vince McMahon, growing a small wrestling entertainment company into an empire before stepping down as CEO in 2009.

She is also the board chairwoman of the America First Policy Institute, an organization that has planned possible policies for Trump’s second term. Trump said McMahon served for two years on the Connecticut Board of Education and as a member of the Board of Trustees at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

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Betsy DeVos worked as Trump’s education secretary from 2017 to 2021.

Trump has suggested he might eliminate the Education Department to cut government spending and “send all education work and needs back to the states.”