Linda McMahon, a co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment, will soon be considered for the position of U.S. Secretary of Education.
McMahon, who was nominated to the role by current U.S. President Donald Trump, will appear before the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on Thursday. She hopes to convince U.S. Senators that she is the right person for the role.
The upcoming hearing will see whether Trump can get his first pick through for a department he hopes to bring radical change to in the coming months. Trump has gone as far as mentioning that he hopes to shut down The Department of Education, arguing that “radicals, zealots and Marxists” have taken over the sector.
Trump was previously quoted that he hopes McMahon can help dismantle the department from within.
“I told Linda [McMahon], ‘Linda, I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job,” he said earlier this month when asked why he chose to nominate McMahon.
McMahon will come into the hearing later this week ahead amid controversy, as she was recently named in a lawsuit that alleges negligence in relation to sexual abuse of “ring boys” in the WWE. Earlier this month more plaintiffs were added to the suit against Linda, Vince, and WWE.
However, controversial picks haven’t stopped many of Trump’s past nominations. Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth was confirmed for Secretary of Defense despite allegations of sexual assault and alcoholism, plus lack of experience in related positions.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., too, passed his hearings and took up U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services amid worries that the past spread of “conspiracy theories” and anti-vaccine rhetoric would make him unfit for the job.
The upcoming hearing is just the latest chapter in McMahon’s deep ties with Trump.
McMahon was appointed Administrator of the Small Business Administration for two years during Trump’s first presidency. She has remained a strong ally since, notably helping raise $83 million for the America First Action Super PAC before the 2020 Presidential election.
McMahon is currently the Chair of the Board for the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit Republican think tank with a similar level of influence to Project 2025’s Heritage Foundation.
McMahon’s hearing will air live both on TV and internet streaming at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday on CSPAN 2.
