Linda McMahon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Linda McMahon
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Official portrait, 2025
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| 13th United States Secretary of Education | |
| Assumed office March 3, 2025 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Miguel Cardona |
| 25th Administrator of the Small Business Administration | |
| In office February 14, 2017 – April 12, 2019 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Althea Coetzee |
| Preceded by | Maria Contreras-Sweet |
| Succeeded by | Jovita Carranza |
| Member of the Connecticut State Board of Education | |
| In office February 28, 2009 – April 1, 2010 |
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| Appointed by | Jodi Rell |
| Preceded by | Alice Carolan |
| Succeeded by | Pamela Partridge West |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Linda Marie Edwards
October 4, 1948 New Bern, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | McMahon family |
| Alma mater | East Carolina University (BA) |
Linda Marie McMahon (born October 4, 1948) is an American politician and business leader. She has been the 13th U.S. Secretary of Education since March 2025. Before this, she was the 25th administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.
McMahon and her husband, Vince McMahon, started a sports entertainment company called Titan Sports, Inc. This company later became World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.. She worked as the president and then CEO from 1980 to 2009. During her time, the company grew from a small business to a large international company. She also started programs like Get R.E.A.L. and SmackDown! Your Vote. She sometimes appeared on TV in wrestling storylines. In 2009, she left WWE to run for a seat in the United States Senate in Connecticut. She ran as a Republican but lost in both the 2010 and 2012 elections.
In December 2016, President Donald Trump chose McMahon to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA). The U.S. Senate approved her nomination in February 2017. She served until April 2019, when she left to help with President Trump's re-election campaign. In 2021, McMahon became the first chairwoman of the America First Policy Institute. In November 2024, President-elect Trump nominated her to be the U.S. Secretary of Education. The Senate confirmed her in March 2025, and she was sworn in on March 3, 2025.
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Early Life and Family
Linda Marie Edwards was born in New Bern, North Carolina. She was an only child and enjoyed playing sports like basketball and baseball. Her parents worked at a military base. She grew up in a Baptist family but later became Roman Catholic.
When she was 13, Linda met Vince McMahon, who was 16. They dated through high school. Vince often spent time at her home because he liked the stable environment. They married on August 26, 1966, when she was 17.
Linda went to East Carolina University in 1966 and earned a degree in French. Her studies prepared her to be a teacher. Their son Shane was born in 1970, and their daughter Stephanie was born in 1976.
Starting a Career
In 1969, the McMahons moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland. Linda worked as a receptionist at a law firm. She translated French documents and learned about intellectual property rights.
In 1979, Vince decided to promote wrestling events. He bought the Cape Cod Coliseum in Massachusetts and started Titan Sports, Inc. in 1980. The McMahons also held small hockey and other sports events at the Coliseum. Linda helped Vince with the business and used her knowledge of law to protect the company's trademarks.
In 1983, the McMahons moved to Greenwich, Connecticut. They now have six grandchildren.
Leading World Wrestling Entertainment
Company Leadership
Linda McMahon and Vince McMahon started Titan Sports, Inc. together in 1980. She became the company's president in 1993 and CEO in 1997. The company grew very quickly and changed the wrestling industry. Many people called Linda and Vince "business geniuses."
Linda was very interested in selling company products like toys and clothes. She made many business deals with other companies. She also helped create the company's first line of action figures, called Wrestling Superstars, in 1984. This helped make the company popular with children. She also helped negotiate a big TV deal for the company in 2000.
In an interview, Linda said she enjoyed being a CEO in a male-dominated industry. She felt comfortable because she grew up playing sports. On September 16, 2009, Linda McMahon left her role as CEO of WWE to run for the U.S. Senate.
TV Rating Change
In July 2008, WWE changed its TV rating from TV-14 to TV-PG. This meant the shows became more family-friendly. Linda McMahon said this change was a way to attract younger fans and build loyalty to the brand. Because of the TV-PG rating, certain moves like chair shots to the head were no longer allowed. Also, blood and strong language were removed from the shows.
On-Screen Appearances
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Linda McMahon mostly worked behind the scenes in management. However, she did appear in some storylines on WWE television. She first appeared on TV in May 1999. She once said that she often watched the storylines unfold just like the audience did, without knowing all the details beforehand.
Helping the Community through WWE
Donations and Awards
Through WWE, the McMahons gave a lot of money to the Donald J. Trump Foundation. They also donated to schools like Fishburne Military School, Sacred Heart University, and East Carolina University. Linda McMahon has supported many groups, including the USO, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Special Olympics.
In 2007, she was named one of "Wonder Women" by Multichannel News for her work in the cable and telecommunications industries. She also spoke at a leadership breakfast for the Girl Scout Council.
Under her leadership, WWE received awards for supporting U.S. troops and their families. In 2012, Sacred Heart University named a building after her, the Linda E. McMahon Commons Building.
Get R.E.A.L. Program
McMahon started the "Get R.E.A.L." program at WWE. This program aimed to share positive messages about education with young people. It encouraged reading through public service announcements, posters, and bookmarks that featured wrestling superstars.
SmackDown! Your Vote Campaign
McMahon also started WWE's "SmackDown! Your Vote" campaign in 2000. This program encouraged young people aged 18 to 30 to register and vote. It used online marketing and public service announcements. The campaign helped register 150,000 new voters during the 2000 election. It worked with other groups like MTV's Choose or Lose.
Supporting Special Olympics
The McMahons began supporting the Special Olympics in 1986. Linda became interested in the Special Olympics through friends. In 1995, she was appointed to the Governor's Council for the World Special Olympics.
Political Career
Connecticut Board of Education
In January 2009, Governor Jodi Rell appointed McMahon to the Connecticut State Board of Education. She told lawmakers she had always been interested in education and once wanted to be a teacher.
The State Senate approved her appointment. Some people worried about her past work with WWE. However, others felt it would be good to have someone new on the board. On April 1, 2010, McMahon resigned from the board to run for the U.S. Senate.
Running for Senate
2010 U.S. Senate Campaign
| Linda McMahon for Senate 2010 | |
|---|---|
| Campaign | U.S. Senator from Connecticut |
| Candidate | Linda McMahon |
| Affiliation | Republican Party |
| Status | Conceded |
| Headquarters | West Hartford, Connecticut |
| Key people | Ed Patru (spokesman) |
| Receipts | US$46.6 million |
| Slogan | A businesswoman, not a politician, for Connecticut |
On September 16, 2009, McMahon announced she was running for U.S. Senator for Connecticut. She said she would spend her own money on the campaign. She ran as a Republican, promising lower taxes and more jobs. She won the Republican primary election. In the general election, she lost to Richard Blumenthal.
2012 U.S. Senate Campaign
After her first loss, McMahon hinted she would run for Senate again in 2012. She stayed visible by appearing on TV and campaigning for other politicians. When Senator Joe Lieberman announced he would retire, she became a top choice for the Republican Party.
On September 20, 2011, McMahon officially announced her candidacy. She won the Republican primary election in August 2012. She spent a lot of her own money on this campaign too. In the general election, she lost to Chris Murphy. This was her second time losing a Senate race.
Political Donations
After her election losses, McMahon became a major fundraiser and donor for the Republican Party. She gave money to groups like American Crossroads.
She also donated to Donald Trump's presidential campaigns. In 2016, she gave $6 million to a group that supported Trump's election.
Leading the Small Business Administration (2017–2019)
Nomination and Approval
On December 7, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate McMahon to lead the Small Business Administration (SBA).
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Her approval hearing was on January 24, 2017. The Senate Committee approved her nomination in February 2017. The full U.S. Senate confirmed her on February 14, 2017, with a strong vote of 81 to 19.
Her Time as Administrator
McMahon officially became the 25th Administrator of the Small Business Administration on February 14, 2017.
In 2017, she visited 68 cities to talk with small business owners. She also supported President Trump's tax cuts. On her first anniversary at the SBA, The Washington Post said she had done a good job. They noted she improved the SBA's emergency call centers after Hurricane Harvey and updated the administration's online presence.
On March 29, 2019, McMahon announced she would leave the SBA on April 12, 2019. She left to work on President Trump's 2020 re-election campaign. After that, she became the first chairperson of the America First Policy Institute.
Fundraising and Trump Transition (2019–2025)
America First Action, a group chaired by McMahon, helped raise $83 million for Trump's re-election campaign in 2020. McMahon also chairs the board for the America First Policy Institute. She later joined Howard Lutnick as co-chair of Trump's second transition team.
Secretary of Education (2025–present)
Nomination and Approval
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On November 19, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate McMahon to lead the Department of Education for his second term.
During her nomination process, McMahon supported school choice and charter schools in the United States.
Her nomination was sent to the U.S. Senate in January 2025. The Senate Committee approved her nomination in February. On March 3, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed McMahon as U.S. Secretary of Education with a vote of 51 to 45.
Her Time as Secretary
McMahon was sworn in as the 13th United States Secretary of Education on March 3, 2025.
Images for kids
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McMahon at the WWE Hall of Fame event in April 2014.
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McMahon with Ivanka Trump in August 2017.
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McMahon being sworn in by Jacqueline Clay.
See also
In Spanish: Linda McMahon para niños
