WASHINGTON: Donald Trump nominated Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, on Tuesday to lead the Department of Education, which he has pledged to abolish.

Describing McMahon as a `fierce advocate for Parents` Rights,` Trump said in a statement: `Wewill send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.` McMahon is a cochair of Trump`s transition team ahead of his return to the White House in January. It is tasked with filling some 4,000 positions in the government.Regarding McMahon`s experience in education, Trump cited her two-year stint on the Connecticut Board of Education and 16 years on the board of trustees at Sacred Heart University, a private Catholic school. McMahon left WWE in 2009 to run in vain for US Senate, and has been a major donor to Trump.

Since 2021, she has chaired the Centre For The American Worker at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute.

During the election campaign Trump promised to do away with the federal education department when he returns to the White House.

`I say it all the time. I`m dying to get back to do this.

We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education, he said in September during a rally in Wisconsin.

At the Republican convention in Milwaukee, McMahon said she was `privileged to call Donald Trump a colleague and a boss,` as well as `a friend.`-AFP