President-elect Donald Trump has appointed billionaire and former professional wrestling executive Linda McMahon as the Secretary of the Education Department, an agency he has pledged to overhaul.
Additionally, Trump selected Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former television talk show host and cardiothoracic surgeon, to lead the department that administers health insurance programs for millions of elderly, low-income, and disabled Americans. Howard Lutnick, a Wall Street executive, has also been chosen to head the Commerce Department.
McMahon, who served as the head of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019 during Trump’s first term, has also run for the US Senate in Connecticut twice as a Republican. She has been involved with the Connecticut Board of Education and has served on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University. Though she is relatively unknown in education circles, McMahon supports charter schools and school choice.
In his statement, Trump praised McMahon’s leadership experience and understanding of both education and business, expressing confidence that she will help make America a leader in education. McMahon has been a loyal supporter of Trump, and she accompanied him to a SpaceX Starship launch event in Texas recently.
After her tenure in the Trump administration, McMahon became chair of the America First Policy Institute and the pro-Trump America First Action SuperPAC. She is married to Vince McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, who resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denies.
If confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, McMahon will be responsible for aligning the nation’s educational institutions with Trump’s vision, which includes eliminating what he perceives as left-wing indoctrination in schools. Trump has pledged to cut federal funding for schools promoting Critical Race Theory and other controversial content and to challenge university diversity initiatives.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, who unsuccessfully ran for the US Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022, has been an ardent supporter of Trump and recently backed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the top health agency position. Trump believes Oz will prioritize disease prevention and reduce waste and fraud in the nation’s healthcare system.
As the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Oz would oversee programs that provide health insurance to over half of the US population. These include Medicaid for low-income individuals, Medicare for the elderly and disabled, and the Affordable Care Act for those not covered by employer-provided insurance.
Oz, who has faced criticism for promoting questionable medical treatments on his TV show, has a net worth estimated between $100 million and $315 million. Democratic Senator Patty Murray has criticised Oz’s nomination, citing his lack of qualifications and his extreme views on abortion.
Furthermore, Howard Lutnick, the appointed Secretary of Commerce, will play a crucial role in implementing Trump’s tariff and trade policies. Lutnick, an advocate for tariffs and head of Cantor Fitzgerald, has been a significant figure in Trump’s transition team and is a proponent of imposing tariffs to protect American workers.
Trump announced these nominations on his social media platform, Truth Social, highlighting Lutnick’s responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Lutnick, who has connections with top CEOs and the business community, supports extensive tariffs on imported goods, a stance generally viewed skeptically by mainstream economists.
Lutnick’s extensive career includes leading Cantor Fitzgerald since 1991 and involvement in other financial and real estate firms. He has contributed to both political parties and appeared on Trump’s reality show, “The Apprentice.” As Commerce Secretary, Lutnick will oversee a broad range of activities, including funding new technology initiatives and economic monitoring.
Frances Ibiefo
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