Washington

US President-elect Donald Trump announced Linda McMahon, founder of WWE, as his pick for education secretary on Tuesday (Nov 19). 

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McMahon was co-chair of Donald Trump’s transition team and Trump's announcement came after it was reported that she will be leading the Commerce Department. 

In an official statement on his Truth Social, Trump wrote, "It is my great honour to announce that Linda McMahon, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration, will be the United States Secretary of Education."

“We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort,” Trump added.

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Transition From WWE to Politics 

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McMahon served as the chief of the Small Business Administration (SBA) from 2017 to 2019 during Donald Trump's first term in the White House. 

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She founded Capitol Wrestling with her husband Vince McMahon, which is now known as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). 

McMahon stepped down from her position as the CEO of WWE in 2009 to try her hands at politics. 

In 2010, McMahon ran as the Republican nominee for US Senate in Connecticut. But she lost the election to Democrat Richard Blumenthal.

But despite her failed attempt in the election, she was chosen as chair of the board for the America First Policy Institute.

The institute, a conservative think tank, was founded in 2021 by Trump aides to promote and establish his priorities. 

Working along with the billionaire Howard Lutnick, who was chosen to lead the Commerce Department in Trump's second term, McMahon played a key role in Trump's transition team. 

Interest In Education 

In 2009, McMahon served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year. At that time, she told lawmakers that she was keen to explore the education sector and wanted to become a teacher but could not move with that plan after marriage. 

When Trump chose McMahon for SBA, she was praised by Blumenthal and Murphy, two Democrats who defeated her in Senate campaigns. 

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Blumenthal praised McMahon by calling her “a person of serious accomplishment and ability," while Murphy said McMahon was a “talented and experienced businessperson.”

The Lawsuit 

In October, McMahon, along with her husband and other officials of WWE, was named in a lawsuit. 

The lawsuit alleges that McMahon and others allowed the sexual abuse of young boys by former WWE ring crew chief Melvin Phillips Jr. 

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The lawsuit specifically said that McMahon had all the information on the issue, but she did not take any action, according to The Guardian. 

(With inputs from agencies)