Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon | |
|---|---|
McMahon in 2025 | |
| 13th United States Secretary of Education | |
| Assumed office March 3, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Miguel Cardona |
| 25th Administrator of the Small Business Administration | |
| In office February 14, 2017 – April 12, 2019 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Althea Coetzee |
| Preceded by | Maria Contreras-Sweet |
| Succeeded by | Jovita Carranza |
| Member of the Connecticut State Board of Education | |
| In office February 28, 2009 – April 1, 2010 | |
| Appointed by | Jodi Rell |
| Preceded by | Alice Carolan |
| Succeeded by | Pamela Partridge West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Linda Marie Edwards October 4, 1948 New Bern, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | [1] |
| Children |
|
| Relatives | McMahon family |
| Alma mater | East Carolina University (BA) |
Linda Marie McMahon (/məkˈmæn/ mək-MAN; née Edwards; born October 4, 1948) is an American politician, business executive, and former professional wrestling executive who has served as the 13th United States secretary of education since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as the 25th administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.[2][3]
McMahon, along with her husband, Vince McMahon, founded sports entertainment company Titan Sports, Inc. (later World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.), where she worked as the president and later CEO from 1980 to 2009. During this time, the company grew from a regional business in the northeast to a large multinational corporation. Among other things, she initiated the company's civic programs, Get R.E.A.L. and SmackDown! Your Vote. She made occasional on-screen performances, most notably in a feud with her husband that culminated at WrestleMania X-Seven. In 2009, she left World Wrestling Entertainment to run for a seat in the United States Senate from Connecticut as a Republican, but lost to Democrat Richard Blumenthal in the 2010 general election. She was the Republican nominee for Connecticut's other Senate seat in the 2012 race, but lost to Democrat Chris Murphy.
On December 7, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced his nomination of McMahon to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) for the then-first Trump presidential administration. McMahon was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 14, 2017, by a vote of 81–19 and sworn in as the 25th administrator of the SBA. On March 29, 2019, the Trump administration announced McMahon would step down as the administrator of the SBA in April to work on his upcoming re-election campaign.
In 2021, McMahon was the founding chairwoman of the America First Policy Institute.[4]
On November 19, 2024, McMahon was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education for the second Trump presidential administration. McMahon was confirmed to the office by the United States Senate on March 3, 2025, by a vote of 51–45.[5][6][7] McMahon was sworn in as the 13th U.S. Secretary of Education on March 3, 2025.
- ^ Masih, Niha; Scherer, Michael; Dawsey, Josh; Parker, Ashley; Pager, Tyler; Schaul, Kevin; Perry, Kati; Melgar, Luis; Keating, Dan (November 20, 2024). "Who is Linda McMahon? Trump donor, WWE co-founder is education secretary pick". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Montague, Zach (February 13, 2025). "Linda McMahon Lays Out Plan for a Diminished Education Dept". The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ Treene, Alayna; Lobosco, Katie (February 4, 2025). "Trump administration drafting executive order to initiate Department of Education's elimination | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ Alfonseca, Kiara; Jones II, Arthur (November 20, 2024). "Linda McMahon's background as Trump's pick for education secretary". ABC News. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 119th Congress - 1st Session". www.senate.gov. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ^ Spady, Aubrie (March 3, 2025). "WWE legend to lead Education Department after clinching final match in the Senate". Fox News. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
- ^ Hunter, Avery Lotz,Kathleen (March 3, 2025). "Linda McMahon confirmed to lead Education Department". Axios. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
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