United States President-elect, Donald Trump, has announced Linda McMahon, a co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment and a longtime ally, as his pick for education secretary in his potential second term.
McMahon, who served as head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first presidency, has a longstanding connection to Trump, having donated substantial sums to his presidential campaigns and shared ties through WWE, where Trump made several high-profile appearances.
Trump made the announcement on his platform, Truth Social, praising McMahon’s leadership qualities and experience in both education and business.
“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,” Trump stated.
The nomination aligns with Trump’s pledge to dismantle the Department of Education, an agency he has repeatedly criticized.
Should McMahon be confirmed, she could be tasked with leading the department’s dissolution and redirecting educational control to the states.
Trump emphasized McMahon’s role in championing parental rights through her work as chair of the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute, a position he noted would bolster her confirmation prospects in a Republican-led Senate.
“For the past four years, as the Chair of the Board at the America First Policy Institute, Linda has been a fierce advocate for Parents’ Rights,” Trump said. He also added that she would “spearhead” efforts to “send Education BACK TO THE STATES,” underscoring his administration’s vision for decentralizing federal oversight.
McMahon, who co-founded WWE with her husband Vince McMahon in 1980, left her role as CEO in 2009 to pursue politics, including an unsuccessful Senate run.
Despite limited direct experience in education, she briefly served on Connecticut’s state board of education from 2009 to 2010.
Her nomination, however, arrives amid legal troubles. In October, McMahon was named in a lawsuit accusing WWE leaders of enabling abuse by a former ringside announcer.
While McMahon and her husband have denied any wrongdoing, their lawyer dismissed the claims as “absurd, defamatory and utterly meritless.”
Trump Picks Mehmet Oz to Overhaul Medicare and Medicaid Services
In a separate appointment, Trump has tapped celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a role that oversees healthcare for over 150 million Americans. Oz, best known for his television career, has faced criticism for endorsing unproven medical treatments but remains a vocal advocate for reforming healthcare systems.
Trump, in his statement, called Oz “one of the most qualified physicians” to lead the agency. “There may be no Physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again,” he said, suggesting Oz’s efforts would align with Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address systemic health challenges.
Oz’s Senate confirmation could ignite debates, given his history of promoting alternative medicine and contentious endorsements during his TV career.
Critics have pointed to his promotion of products like “miracle” weight loss drugs and his support for hydroxychloroquine as a Covid-19 treatment, a claim debunked by experts.
CMS, which administers Medicare and Medicaid, is the federal government’s largest healthcare agency, with an annual budget exceeding $1.4 trillion.
Oz’s mandate would include reducing waste, enhancing transparency, and expanding healthcare access.
Trump has pledged to make healthcare more competitive and cost-effective under Oz’s leadership.
A trained cardiothoracic surgeon, Oz gained fame through appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show before launching The Dr. Oz Show.
Despite his medical credentials, his show blurred the lines between science and entertainment, frequently drawing criticism for promoting pseudoscientific remedies.
These appointments, alongside Trump’s nomination of Howard Lutnick for commerce secretary, reflect a pattern of selecting loyal supporters for key roles as he shapes his potential cabinet.
