President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former professional wrestling executive Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education, even though he wants to eliminate the cabinet-level government office completely. She has little educational experience apart from taking some college education classes and spending one year on Connecticut’s Board of Education.
In addition to donating millions of dollars to Trump’s campaign and chairing a political action committee supporting him, she also supports so-called “school choice” programs. Such programs redirect taxpayer funds from public schools to private for-profit schools that can discriminate against LGBTQ+ students and others without any government oversight.
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Linda McMahon at a glance
Location: Greenwich, Connecticut.
Party Affiliation: Republican
Race/Ethnicity: Welsh-American
Gender Identity: Female
Orientation: Heterosexual
Pronouns: She/her/hers
LGBTQ+ Ally: No
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Linda McMahon’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues
Same-sex marriage
When running for the U.S. Senate in 2010 campaign, McMahon’s campaign said she supported the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a 1996 law that forbade the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages – because “she supports states’ rights.” At the time, 29 states had banned same-sex marriage and seven had legalized it.
The head of the anti-LGBTQ+ Family Institute of Connecticut endorsed McMahon in 2010 and in 2012, stating that McMahon had reached out for their endorsement and that they agreed with her support for DOMA.
In 2012, she said she supports “America’s law for same-sex marriage.” At the time, there was neither a federal law nor congressional legislation for same-sex marriage. She later said, “I have changed my position on DOMA. With now gay marriage approved in the state of Connecticut, I don’t think it’s fair.” She said her “opinion has just been evolving” on the issue.
Trans children in sports
McMahon helped launch and serves as chair of the board for America First Policy Institute (AFPI), a right-wing think tank that has called transgender athletes a “nightmare,” said that President Joe Biden’s trans-inclusive Title IX rules “pervert” girls’ sports, and said that trans athletes “threaten both the safety of female athletes and the integrity of women’s sports.”
Transgender access to public bathrooms
While McMahon doesn’t seem to have made public comments about this issue, Trump has promised to repeal Biden’s Title IX protections for trans students, which require schools to let trans students use bathrooms matching their gender identity, on day one of his presidency.
Don’t say gay/LGBTQ+ discussions in schools
McMahon’s AFPI think-tank has published numerous articles supporting so-called “parents rights” policies, claiming that “an evergrowing movement is now infusing classrooms with race-based policies and instruction that sexualizes young children and deconstructs the nuclear family.”
Parent’s rights groups have long said that LGBTQ+-inclusive books and classroom instruction “sexualize” children, and they use the argument as a pretext for banning both from schools.
The think-tank has also expressed support for The Parents Bill of Rights (H.R. 5), Republican legislation that would require federally funded elementary and middle schools to obtain parental consent before “changing a minor child’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or allowing a child to change the child’s sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.”
Gender-affirming care for trans youth
McMahon’s AFPI think-tank says it is “fighting back” against “radical gender ideology.” It spreads falsehoods about gender-affirming care and has applauded states for passing laws restricting gender-affirming care for trans minors.
Discrimination protections
As education secretary, McMahon would be expected to support Trump’s plan to repeal Biden’s Title IX protections for trans students. These include protections against deliberate misgendering and other types of harassment and discrimination against LGBTQ+ students.
Graduated from East Carolina University in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in French
Worked as a receptionist at the corporate law firm of Covington & Burling
Co-founded Titan Sports, Inc. in 1980 (which later became WWF/WWE)
Appointed to the Connecticut State Board of Education in January 2009
Ran unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2012
Appointed as administrator of the Small Business Administration under Trump in 2017. Resigned in 2019
Founded the America First Policy Institute in 2021
Nominated by Trump to serve as Education Secretary in 2024
Conclusion
In a statement against McMahon’s nomination, GLSEN wrote, “Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Linda McMahon, a political ally with no substantial background in education, is yet another deeply concerning move in his ongoing effort to undermine public education. McMahon’s lack of expertise in education, paired with Trump’s focus on so-called ‘parents’ rights’ and ‘school choice,’ signals a continued push to strip critical protections for LGBTQ+ students and historically marginalized communities.”
Her record of anti-LGBTQ+ advocacy suggests she’ll continue Trump’s transphobic campaign and roll back any protections for LGBTQ+ students.
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