Alright, folks, buckle up because this one’s got all the makings of a political wrestling match—literally. Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), is now just one final vote away from becoming the head of the Department of Education. And if that sentence alone doesn’t make you do a double take, just wait—because this confirmation process has been anything but boring.
So here’s where we stand: The Senate pushed McMahon’s nomination forward with a 51-47 cloture vote, setting the stage for the final showdown on the Senate floor. Now, if you’re wondering why President Donald Trump picked a wrestling executive to lead education policy, well, it’s all part of the bigger picture.
Trump has made it abundantly clear that he wants to shut down the Department of Education altogether. In fact, he’s even said that McMahon’s job, if confirmed, would essentially be to eliminate her own position. That’s right—he wants her to “put herself out of a job.”
Now, let’s talk numbers. Trump has repeatedly slammed the U.S. education system as a “big con job,” pointing out that while the U.S. spends more per student than any other country, it still ranks a dismal 40th in global education rankings. And let’s be real—that’s not exactly a championship belt-worthy performance.
McMahon, for her part, took the stand in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee earlier this month, where she made the case that education is the key to America’s future. She stuck to the theme that American workers need to be prepared to “win the future,” which, let’s face it, sounds a whole lot like something straight out of a WrestleMania promo.
Thank you to my family and friends who stood by me during my hearing yesterday and to all who have supported me on this journey.
I look forward to serving in President Trump’s Administration soon as the next Secretary of Education. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/zdg7okk9Nb
— Linda McMahon (@Linda_McMahon) February 14, 2025
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Trump-era confirmation hearing without some fireworks. Protesters made their voices heard, there was heated debate over whether biological men should compete in women’s sports, and lawmakers scrutinized recent budget cuts proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). And yes, if you were wondering—that’s the newly created department led by Elon Musk, whose job is essentially to take a red pen to government spending. Because why not throw a billionaire innovator into the mix?
For McMahon, this isn’t her first go-round in politics. She and her husband, Vince McMahon, built WWE into the entertainment juggernaut it is today before she stepped into the political ring as head of the Small Business Administration (SBA) under Trump. She held that role until 2019 before stepping down to, in her words, “return to the private sector.”
#WomenForTrump 🇺🇸⭐️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/eXDuZjS1mx
— Linda McMahon (@Linda_McMahon) October 31, 2024
So now, all eyes are on the final vote. Will McMahon go from wrestling mogul to the person overseeing America’s education policy—only to dismantle it? One thing’s for sure: this confirmation battle has had more twists and turns than a WWE storyline. Stay tuned.
