Donald Trump (R) announced on Nov. 19, 2024, that he had selected Linda McMahon as his nominee for secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. This position requires Senate confirmation. In a statement, Trump said, “Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students and Workers, and make America Number One in Education in the World.”
McMahon currently serves as one of the co-chairs of Trump’s transition team, alongside Howard Lutnick, the chief executive officer of Cantor Fitzgerald. During Trump’s first term, McMahon served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration, a Cabinet-level position, from 2017 to 2019. McMahon’s professional experience includes working as the co-founder and chief executive officer of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) from 1974 to 2009.
McMahon was Trump’s 15th announced Cabinet nominee. He made the announcement 14 days after election day, the fastest announcement for an Education secretary nominee across the last four presidential transitions. In 2016, Trump announced his pick for the position 15 days after election day. President Joe Biden (D) announced his Education secretary pick 29 days after the 2020 election, and former President Barack Obama (D) announced his Education secretary pick 42 days after election day.
Looking at the 15 Cabinet-level nominees that Trump has announced so far, these announcements have come an average of 8.3 days after election day. Biden’s average for the same positions was 36.7 days after election day, Trump’s first term average for these positions was 27.5 days after election day, and Obama’s average was 36.7 days after election day.
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