President-elect Donald Trump has continued to assemble a cabinet that reflects his penchant for loyalty and unconventional leadership by nominating Linda McMahon and Dr. Mehmet Oz to key roles. McMahon, the former WWE CEO, has been named Education Secretary, while Oz, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon turned television personality, is set to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Linda McMahon: From WWE to Education Policy
Linda McMahon, a trusted Trump ally and former Small Business Administration leader, has been tasked with a significant overhaul of the U.S. education system. Known for her work at the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute, McMahon’s nomination aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to close the Department of Education and shift power back to the states.
While McMahon’s experience in education policy is limited, her previous stint on Connecticut’s state board of education from 2009 to 2010 provides some foundation. Trump praised her as a “fierce advocate for parents’ rights,” signaling his intent to prioritize state control and parental influence in education. However, her confirmation faces scrutiny, particularly given recent legal allegations involving her tenure at WWE.
Dr. Mehmet Oz: Leading America’s Healthcare Programs
Equally bold is Trump’s choice of Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the CMS, an agency that oversees healthcare for over 150 million Americans and regulates Medicare and Medicaid. Oz, best known for his television career and health advice on The Dr. Oz Show, will bring a mix of medical expertise and media savvy to the role.
Oz trained as a cardiothoracic surgeon, working at prestigious institutions like Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital before transitioning to television in the early 2000s. His rise to fame began with appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where his charismatic delivery and health tips captivated millions. However, his career has not been without controversy.
Critics have accused Oz of promoting questionable health products and pseudoscience, such as unproven weight loss supplements and alternative treatments. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he faced backlash for endorsing hydroxychloroquine as a potential cure, a claim debunked by health experts. Despite these controversies, Trump lauded Oz as the ideal candidate to “cut waste and fraud” in America’s largest healthcare programs.
The CMS plays a critical role in managing the U.S. government’s largest healthcare expenditures, which totaled $1.4 trillion in 2023, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Oz will work closely with health secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to tackle inefficiencies in what Trump’s team calls the “illness industrial complex.”
A Cabinet Reflecting Trump’s Vision
These appointments underscore Trump’s strategy of placing trusted allies in key positions, regardless of traditional qualifications. Both McMahon and Oz face Senate confirmation in 2025, where their leadership, controversial pasts, and alignment with Trump’s policies are likely to be closely scrutinized.
Whether these unconventional choices will bring the transformative changes Trump envisions remains uncertain. However, they undoubtedly set the stage for a cabinet defined by loyalty, bold ideas, and a willingness to challenge conventional norms in governance.
