From WWE to US Politics: Who is Linda McMahon?
Located next to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial along Independence Avenue is the US Department of Education. This department holds a crucial role in shaping education policy in the wealthiest democracy, reporting directly to the President of the United States through the Secretary of Education. The position, highly sought after, may soon be filled by former wrestling executive Linda McMahon.
For a lot of millennials who grew up watching WWE throughout their childhood and school days, it feels surreal to see President-elect Donald Trump choose Linda McMahon, the former CEO of WWE, as his new Secretary of Education.
If you’re not familiar, Linda McMahon is the spouse of the well-known wrestling promoter Vince McMahon. Together, they started World Wrestling Entertainment, which evolved from the World Wide Wrestling Federation, and established it as the top company in the realm of “wrestling entertainment.” This genre combines professional wrestling with meticulously crafted narratives and results.
In 2024, Linda McMahon holds significant sway in the political arena. After leaving her role as the head of WWE, she ventured into politics in 2010. Despite her efforts, she faced defeats in consecutive elections for a US Senate seat in Connecticut in both 2010 and 2012. Undeterred, she shifted her focus to supporting other candidates, much like she did in wrestling. Her investment of $6 million in support of Trump's 2016 campaign proved to be a wise decision.
During his first term as president, Trump chose McMahon to lead the Small Business Administration, receiving accolades from Democratic senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, who had previously defeated her in elections in 2010 and 2012. McMahon demonstrated her capabilities while heading the agency responsible for disaster relief for businesses and overseeing the adherence to contract laws by government officials. Trump remarked, “I knew she was good, but I didn’t realize she was that impressive.”
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Although McMahon stepped down from her position in the administration in 2019, she has continued to express her support for Trump.
She served as the chair of the super PAC "America First Action," which supported Trump's campaign for reelection in 2020. Additionally, she co-led his transition team alongside Howard Lutnick during Trump's successful 2024 campaign.
A Family Life Packed With Wrestling Moments
Seventeen-year-old Linda tied the knot with 21-year-old Vince McMahon in August 1966. She earned a bachelor's degree in French and has a teaching certification from East Carolina University.
In 1971, Linda's husband, Vince McMahon, became part of his father’s wrestling organization, the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), which eventually evolved into the well-known WWE brand that the pair would lead. Linda and Vince have two children together: their son Shane, born in 1970, and their daughter Stephanie, born in 1976.
During his time on "The Apprentice," Donald Trump had a playful rivalry with Vince McMahon that entertained many people. This well-rehearsed drama culminated in Trump participating in WWE's major event, Wrestlemania 23, in 2007, where he famously shaved McMahon's head in the ring. Fast forward to 2024, and Trump has become the President-elect of the United States, with Linda McMahon taking on the role of Education Secretary.
Shane, the eldest of McMahon's children, used to be a wrestler in WWE and held the position of Executive Vice President for WWE's Global Media division. Recently, there have been speculations that he might be joining WWE's competitor, AEW (All Elite Wrestling), in a management role.
Stephanie McMahon Levesque, the daughter of Vince McMahon, is a former wrestler who took over as WWE chairperson in 2022 after her father stepped down. However, she left her position when Vince made a comeback a year later. Stephanie is married to Paul Levesque, widely known in the wrestling world as “Triple H,” who serves as WWE's Chief Content Officer.
