JUST IN: Trump Picks WWE Legend For Major Cabinet Post

The White House is ready to rumble, President-elect Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday as he announced his newest pick to lead the U.S. Department of Education.

Heading up the beleaguered agency will be Linda McMahon, a shrewd GOP donor and the wife of longtime WWE CEO Vince McMahon. The announcement, made directly by Trump on Truth Social, is the latest in a number of eye-opening nods the Republican has given to loyal allies who stuck by him through dark times. “It is my great honor to announce that Linda McMahon, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration, will be the United States Secretary of Education,” Trump wrote Wednesday morning, touting her commitment to wresting control of public schools away from teachers’ unions.

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“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. 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.”

He added: “She is now doing an incredible job as Co-Chair of our Trump-Vance Transition Team. 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.”

McMahon, 76, has been more than a behind-the-scenes actor in her husband’s empire. She has sparred with female wrestlers on stage and fanned the image of a sharp-elbowed executive who isn’t afraid to get in the ring. During the height of professional wrestling’s heydays, she made semi-frequent appearances in front of the cameras and famously slapped a female host who she blocked from doing the same to her.

WATCH:

This is the new Secretary of Education btw. pic.twitter.com/ViAa8WCIOy

— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) November 20, 2024

Following President-elect Trump’s first term, McMahon partnered with his former economic advisor Larry Kudrow to found the America First Policy Institute, a think tank dedicated to advocating for America First policies on Capitol Hill. The Daily Caller reported that both Trump allies raised substantial funds to propel Trump to a second term, building on the $7 million she contributed to pro-Trump super PACs during his 2016 campaign. Previously she served as WWE’s CEO, helping cultivate a sizable following and later taking the corporation public. She stepped down from her role in 2009.

McMahon is no stranger to rough-and-tumble politics, either. She twice ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in Connecticut, with Trump donating $5,000 toward her 2012 campaign. She will replace Miguel Cardona, President Joe Biden’s education secretary and also a Connecticut native who served as the state’s commissioner of education from 2019 to 2021.

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