Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) CEO, Linda McMahon, has been officially sworn in as the new Secretary of Education under President Donald Trump. This appointment comes despite President Trump's stated intention to eventually eliminate the Department of Education.
The Senate confirmed McMahon's appointment on Monday evening with a 51-45 vote, largely along party lines. McMahon was sworn in shortly after the vote and commenced her official duties the following morning.
In a statement following her confirmation, McMahon expressed gratitude for President Trump's confidence in her and emphasized her readiness to tackle the challenges of improving the education system for over 100 million students. She underscored her commitment to prioritizing students, families, and teachers in every decision.
McMahon further stated her intention to empower states and local school districts, giving them more autonomy in educational decision-making rather than adhering to directives from Washington, D.C.
Despite McMahon's new role, President Trump has maintained his desire to close the Department of Education. McMahon has expressed her support for this objective, echoing the President's belief that education should primarily be handled at the state level.
Prior to her role at the Department of Education, McMahon co-founded WWE with her husband, Vince McMahon, and also served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) during Trump's first term. She previously ran for Senate in Connecticut twice, in 2010 and 2012, but was unsuccessful in both attempts.
