Donald Trump has picked Linda McMahon, a former wrestling executive, to lead the U.S. Department of Education. McMahon, the billionaire co-founder and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), is a longtime Trump ally and has donated generously to both of his presidential campaigns. She co-founded WWE in 1980 with her husband, Vince McMahon.

McMahon is co-chairing Trump’s transition team ahead of his return to the White House in January. It is charged with filling approximately 4,000 positions in the government.

WWE Heritage

In the hours following Trump’s announcement of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education, wild clips from her days with WWE began resurfacing on social media. In one such clip, the ex-WWE billionaire CEO was filmed punching her daughter Stephanie McMahon.

The video, filmed in the early 2000s, shows Linda McMahon punching her daughter in a scripted WWE segment.

Watch the video below:

In the 1980s, WWE (then WWF) became a household name with larger-than-life characters like Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, as well as events like WrestleMania, which is still considered the Super Bowl of professional wrestling.

The video compilation also shows Linda being beaten in turn by her daughter Stephanie in another scripted storyline.

Who is Linda McMahon?

Linda co-founded WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment, formerly known as WWF) with her husband Vince McMahon in the 1980s.

She was instrumental in transforming WWE into a global entertainment powerhouse, managing corporate operations, branding and strategic growth.

She occasionally appeared as an on-screen character in the late 1990s and early 2000s. One memorable storyline involved throwing a punch at her daughter, Stephanie McMahon, a dramatic moment that highlighted the entertainment-driven nature of WWE programming.

In the late 2000s, Linda shifted her focus to politics. She ran for Republican Senate from Connecticut in 2010 and 2012, although she was unsuccessful in both bids.

Her political ambitions culminated in her appointment as administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019.

Linda and Vince McMahon have two children: Shane and Stephanie.