Several House Democrats met with Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Wednesday, and followed the meeting with a press conference outside the Education Department — a press conference they clearly did not expect McMahon to crash.
Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) shared video from the press conference that showed Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) mocking the parental rights advocacy group Moms for Liberty and suggesting that they&#8217;d be unequipped to set education policy or create curricula without the oversight of the federal Department of Education.
&#8220;WATCH: House Democrats use an open discussion on education reform with @EdSecMcMahon to smear parents who want more involvement in their child’s education and spread lies about the “erasing of Black history” that is 100% NOT HAPPENING,&#8221; Owens posted along with the clip. &#8220;What a disgusting political stunt.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨WATCH: House Democrats use an open discussion on education reform with <a href="https://twitter.com/EDSecMcMahon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdSecMcmahon</a> to smear parents who want more involvement in their child’s education and spread lies about the “erasing of Black history” that is 100% NOT HAPPENING.
What a disgusting political stunt. <a href="https://t.co/F2WAiVZTK9">pic.twitter.com/F2WAiVZTK9</a>
&mdash; Rep. Burgess Owens (@RepBurgessOwens) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepBurgessOwens/status/1907463108689317936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;So why do we need a Department of Education?&#8221; she asked. &#8220;Let these Moms of Liberty write our curriculum. Let these Moms of Liberty tell us how to educate our children. Let these Moms of Liberty tell us that you should not teach black history, that you should wipe the pages clean. Remember now, this is a conversation that&#8217;s been going on for about 12 years.&#8221;
A short time later, while Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) complained that there was no real plan and that no one was going to &#8220;really protect our students,&#8221; McMahon herself joined the press conference, and the tone immediately shifted.
&#8220;She is here, perhaps I should give her the podium. We&#8217;re extraordinarily grateful that the Secretary gave us the space to have these conversations but, with all due respect, Madam, I think my biggest concern is that the states will not be able to protect the programs and services.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Democrats had a press conference outside the Department of Education — so <a href="https://twitter.com/EDSecMcMahon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EDSecMcMahon</a> came out to join them:
&quot;I believe — and I know <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> does believe this, as well — the best education is that that is closest to the child.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/AdSrMtf1ph">pic.twitter.com/AdSrMtf1ph</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1907462264547921977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Secretary McMahon then took to the podium and promptly reiterated the case she has made since day one in office for transferring education policy power away from the federal Department of Education and into more local jurisdictions.
&#8220;I just want to express my gratitude to all of these folks who came today so that we could have an open discussion about what I believe is one of the most important things that we can have a discussion on or action on in our country, and that is the education of our young people,&#8221; McMahon said, noting that the next generation of leaders and scientists and doctors and lawyers were being educated now.
&#8220;I believe, and I know the president does believe this as well, the best education is that that is closest to the child, where teachers and parents, local superintendents, working together, and local school boards, to develop the curriculum for those students is the best way that it can happen,&#8221; she said.

Secretary of Education nominee Linda McMahon

Linda McMahon Crashes Dem Press Conference Outside Education Department

Democrat

Department of Education

Education

House Democrats

Linda McMahon

Media

Politics

Press

President Donald Trump labeled George Clooney a “second rate movie star” following the actor’s interview on “60 Minutes” in which he claimed there was an attack on freedom of the press.
“Why would the now highly discredited ‘60 Minutes’ be doing a total ‘puff piece’ on George Clooney, a second rate movie ‘star,’ and failed political pundit,” Trump wrote in a post on his <a href="https://x.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1904054631187333472">Truth Social</a>.
“He [Clooney] fought hard for Sleepy Joe’s election and then, right after the debate, dumped him like a dog,” he added. “Later, I assume under orders from the Obama camp, pushed all out for ‘Kamala,’ only to soon realize that that was not going to work out to well.”
“‘60 Minutes’ even fraudulently inserted fake answers into her disastrous interview, aired just before Election Day, in one of the most embarrassing and dishonest events in broadcast history,” Trump continued. “And now George Clooney again? His press agent should be making a fortune!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Why would the now highly discredited 60 Minutes be doing a total “puff piece” on George Clooney, a second rate movie “star,” and failed political pundit. He fought hard for Sleepy Joe’s election and then, right after the Debate, dumped him like a dog. Later, I assume under orders…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1904054631187333472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
Trump&#8217;s comments came after the 63-year-old actor’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoaLYLOps8I">interview</a> in which he referenced the president’s $20 billion defamation suit against CBS for its &#8220;60 Minutes” interview with the former vice president before the election, which Trump has said was deceptively edited.
“When the other three estates fail, when the judiciary and the executive and the legislative branches fail us, the fourth estate has to succeed,&#8221; Clooney said on CBS. &#8220;Has to succeed, as ‘60 Minutes’ is here right now on our first day.&#8221;
“We’re seeing this idea of using government to scare or fine or use corporations — to make journalists smaller,” he added. “Governments don’t like the freedom of the press. They never have. And that goes for whether you are a conservative or a liberal or whatever side you’re on. They don’t like the press.”
“Journalism and telling truth to power has to be waged like war is waged,” Clooney <a href="https://ew.com/donald-trump-responds-george-clooney-60-minutes-interview-free-press-11702167">continued</a>. &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t just happen accidentally. You know, it takes people saying, we&#8217;re gonna do these stories and you&#8217;re gonna have to come after us. And that&#8217;s the way it is.&#8221;
At one point in the interview, the “Oceans 11” star and longtime Democrat supporter doubled-down on writing his New York Times op-ed when he said President Biden needed to step down, allowing for the party to get behind now-failed Democrat candidate Harris.
 &#8220;I was raised to tell the truth,&#8221; Clooney said. &#8220;I had seen the president up close for this fundraiser, and I was surprised. And so I feel as if there was a lot of profiles in cowardice in my party through all of that. And I was not proud of that. And I also believed I had to tell the truth.&#8221; 
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/george-clooney-offers-unexpected-message-to-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">George Clooney Offers Unexpected Message To Trump</a>

Donald Trump/George Clooney

‘Second Rate Movie Star’: Trump Slams George Clooney After ’60 Minutes’ Interview

Menu

Press

Linda McMahon Crashes Dem Press Conference Outside Education Department

‘Second Rate Movie Star’: Trump Slams George Clooney After ’60 Minutes’ Interview