Education Secretary Linda McMahon declined to say whether teaching students about Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election constitutes “unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices” in a recent tense exchange with lawmakers.
During a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., pressed McMahon on whether such lesson plans violated the Trump administration’s stance against what it called “unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.”
McMahon did not answer directly, but reiterated that “all social studies courses should be taught accurately” and that “we should listen to all sides.”
Lee asked whether discussing key historical facts — such as Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, or the story of civil rights figure Ruby Bridges — could be considered illegal under current DEI policy guidelines. McMahon said she would “look into” those examples but did not say whether she was familiar with the events or figures.
“Do you know what the Tulsa race massacre was?” Lee asked, referring to the deadly attack on a prosperous black community in Oklahoma by a white mob.
“I’d like to learn more about that,” McMahon responded.
Lee then asked about Ruby Bridges’ children’s book Through My Eyes and whether McMahon herself knew Bridges, the first black child to attend an all-white school in 1960.
McMahon acknowledged that she had not read the book and did not directly answer. When Lee pressed, McMahon said, “If you have a specific example –”
“That’s a very specific example,” Lee said pointedly.
Lee also questioned McMahon if schools that teach that Biden won the 2020 election would be considered “illegal DEI.” McMahon again avoided a direct answer, only repeating, “We should teach accurately. We should listen to all sides.”
The exchange came after Oklahoma passed new education standards that included conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Students in the state will now be asked to review “discrepancies” in election results, including unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud, mail-in ballots and ballot counting. Critics say the changes fuel false narratives promoted by Trump and his allies.
McMahon appeared before the committee to present her department’s budget, which the White House has proposed cutting by 15% through 2026. The Biden administration is also seeking to eliminate the Department of Education entirely. Education advocates warned that the proposed cuts could disproportionately affect low-income and rural students and could hurt public schools across the country.
The School Superintendents Association criticized the move, saying the cuts “will ultimately hurt schools and the students they serve.”
