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5 things to know about Trump’s pick to lead the federal Department of Education
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5 things to know about Trump’s pick to lead the federal Department of Education

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed a former wrestling executive to lead the federal Department of Education, which he wants to close.

Linda McMahon is the co-founder and former CEO of WWE. She is a former administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. And she is co-chair of Trump’s transition team.

Here are five things to know about McMahon.

Limited teaching experience

McMahon is a graduate of East Carolina University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in French and her teaching certificate.

But she didn’t work as a teacher.

McMahon served two years on the Connecticut State Board of Education.

And she was a trustee at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut for 16 years.

WWE

McMahon, 76, is married to Vince McMahon, the former chairman and CEO of WWE.

According to her SBA biography, Linda McMahon helped grow WWE from a 13-person regional operation to a publicly traded global company with more than 800 employees in offices around the world.

SBA led

McMahon was an SBA administrator during Trump’s first stint in the White House, so she has Cabinet-level experience.

In that role, McMahon advocated on behalf of America’s 30 million small businesses.

Trump supporter

McMahon is co-chair of Trump’s transition team.

She is reportedly a major GOP donor.

McMahon was chairman of America First Action, a super PAC that supported Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign, according to The Associated Press.

And she is president of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank.

Attempt at politics

McMahon ran for U.S. Senate in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012, but lost both times.

Current Democratic Senator Chris Murphy defeated McMahon in the 2012 election.

Connecticut’s other current senator, Richard Blumenthal, defeated McMahon in her first run.