Mrs. McMahon pipped at the post. Lutnick snags top Commerce job. Greenwich Republican said to be “pissed” at the slight by Trump.

Linda McMahon will not be joining the Trump administration as secretary of Commerce. Donald Trump announced Tuesday the post goes to Howard Lutnick, Mrs. McMahon’s transition committee co-chair. For Lutnick, the appointment serves as a consolation prize from his ill-judged bid to head the Treasury Department. Mrs. McMahon, according to Semafor, is said to be “pissed” that Trump has not given her the top Commerce job.

Lutnick received a push for the Treasury post from Elon Musk over the weekend on his social media platform, X. Some people are saying that Musk’s exertions on behalf may be seen as overstepping his place in the hierarchy at the Palace of Palm Beach.

Mrs. McMahon, 76, had been mentioned as the likely choice for Commerce secretary, a considerable step up from her perch at the Small Business Administration (SBA) in the first Trump administration. She had also been mentioned for something at Commerce eight years ago.

The former wrestling executive resigned from SBA after two years to lead a Trump Super PAC, America First Action, for the 2020 campaign, which Trump lost to Joe Biden by seven million votes. McMahon was one of Trump’s most generous donors in 2016, but memories fade over eight tumultuous years.

McMahon was the Republican nominee for the United State Senate in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012. She received 43% of the vote against her Democratic opponent in each campaign.

Linda McMahon was named this year with her husband, Vince McMahon, as a defendant in the salacious “Ring Boys” scandal.

Published November 19, 2024.