Linda McMahon, President Donald Trump’s education secretary, found herself the subject of widespread ridicule after she mistakenly referred to artificial intelligence as “A1” instead of “AI” during a speech at the ASU+GSV education summit in San Diego.
The 76-year-old former WWE executive made the gaffe while discussing the use of AI in classrooms.
In her speech, McMahon explained how schools are incorporating advanced technology into early education, but her repeated mention of “A1” instead of “AI” caught the attention of social media.
“I heard this morning… there’s a school system that’s gonna start making sure that first graders, or even pre-K, have A1 teaching every year starting that far down in the grades,” McMahon said.
She continued, “Now, OK, let’s see A1 and how can that be helpful?”
The Hilarious Backlash Online
The mix-up quickly went viral, and social media users couldn’t resist having a little fun.
A post by A1 Steak Sauce took full advantage of the moment, jokingly suggesting that every school should have access to A1. “You heard her.
Every school should have access to A.1,” the brand tweeted, accompanied by an image of an A1 bottle with the label reading, “For education purposes only.”
The reaction was swift and full of humor. Zach Stout, a social media user, quipped, “At first I thought she might just be talking about having top-notch teachers.
I was clearly mistaken…” Others, like Diane Callahan, added, “She wasn’t qualified in the first place,” while another anonymous user remarked, “An accident is saying it once.
You don’t know what you’re talking about if saying repeatedly.”
Linda McMahon’s Controversial Role in the Trump Administration
While McMahon’s slip-up became the talk of the internet, her role as education secretary has been a controversial one.
She was appointed by President Trump with the task of eventually dismantling the Department of Education, a goal he has long championed.
Trump has expressed his desire to see the department “put out of a job,” hoping McMahon’s leadership will reduce its size and scope.
Already, McMahon has made significant cuts, reducing the department’s workforce by half.
The department is also terminating leases on offices across various cities, including New York, Chicago, and Cleveland.
Despite these cuts, McMahon has emphasized that key functions such as the distribution of federal aid and oversight of student loans will continue.
The Future of the Department of Education Under McMahon
McMahon has consistently stated that her goal is not to defund core programs but to make them more efficient.
She has pushed for reductions in “bloat” to ensure more money can reach local education authorities.
At her confirmation hearing, McMahon acknowledged that only Congress can abolish the department, but she suggested it may be due for significant cuts and reorganization.
Under Trump’s administration, the Education Department has become one of the smallest Cabinet-level agencies, with a workforce that once numbered around 4,200.
McMahon’s leadership has involved offering buyouts and deferred resignations to employees in an effort to further shrink the agency.
As the online mockery of her “A1” slip continues, McMahon’s controversial role in reshaping the Department of Education is sure to remain a topic of public conversation.