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On Tuesday, Donald Trump nominated Linda McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), to head the Department of Education. Just hours after Trump's announcement of McMahon's nomination to lead the Education Department, an old video surfaced, showing Trump shaving the head of her husband, Vince McMahon, during a staged wrestling feud. The video quickly gained attention online.
McMahon previously served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term. Appointed in 2017, she resigned in 2019 to chair America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC. She also co-founded and chairs the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump think tank established in 2021 with Larry Kudlow and other former Trump administration advisers.
In his statement, Trump praised McMahon as a "fierce advocate for Parents' Rights" and reiterated his plan, stating, "We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort."
Linda McMahon's Background
McMahon, who co-chairs Trump’s transition team ahead of his return to the White House in January, is tasked with overseeing the filling of about 4,000 government positions. Regarding her experience in education, Trump pointed out her two years on the Connecticut Board of Education and her 16 years as a trustee at Sacred Heart University, a private Catholic institution.
A Shared History with WWE
Trump’s connection with the McMahons dates back to the late 1980s, when he sponsored WWE's WrestleMania IV and V, both held at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. One of the most memorable moments came at WrestleMania 23 in 2007 during the “Battle of the Billionaires.” In this staged rivalry, Trump shaved Vince McMahon’s head after his representative, Bobby Lashley, defeated McMahon’s chosen wrestler, Umaga.
The feud began in January 2007 when Trump, in true showman style, threw thousands of dollars into the crowd during an episode of Raw. The tension led to the “Battle of the Billionaires” at WrestleMania 23 in Detroit, where each billionaire selected a wrestler to fight on their behalf.
With Lashley’s victory, McMahon had to undergo the head shave in the ring at the hands of Donald Trump, further cementing Trump's role in the entertainment world. This moment contributed to his eventual induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. The match was a highlight of WrestleMania 23, setting a record with an attendance of 80,103 fans, surpassing the previous record set during the 2003 college BasketBowl.
