Trump Hilarious Joe Biden Signing Deal Talent Agency; I want Linda to put herself out of job

President Trump responded with characteristic humor to reporter Peter Doocy’s question about former President Joe Biden signing with a talent agency, then pivoted to substantive discussion of Education Department reform. On Biden: “You gotta be kidding. He signed on with a talent agency? I think he’s got bigger problems than that. I think he’s got much bigger problems than that, but I wish him well. We inherited a mess. This place is a mess, but it’s quickly being solved.” On Education Secretary Linda McMahon: “I told Linda, I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job. I want her to put herself out of a job, Education Department.” Trump framed the education framework: “We’re ranked number 40 out of 40 schools, right? We’re ranked number one in cost per pupil. So we spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, and we’re ranked at the bottom of the list.” Trump advocated state-level control: “What I want to do is let the states run schools. I believe strongly in school choice, but in addition to that, I want the states to run schools.” Trump cited positive models: “Denmark, Sweden, Norway, believe it or not, China’s doing very well on that list. A list of well educated, where they run their school system well.” Trump identified well-run states: “If I could give the schools back to Iowa and Idaho and Indiana and all these places that run properly … You give it to the state of Iowa. You give it to the state of Indiana. These are really well run states. They don’t have debt. They don’t have problems. They don’t have any crimes, you know, relatively speaking.” Trump suggested large city breakup: “If you went to New York, you go to Westchester County, you go to Dutchess County, you go to Suffolk and Long Island and Nassau and Long Island.”

Biden Talent Agency

“What do you think about Joe Biden signing on with a talent agency? You gotta be kidding. He signed on with a talent agency? He does. He’s got some entertainment agents now.”

Peter Doocy’s framework:

• Biden talent agency question
• Post-presidential activity
• Entertainment agents
• Speaking/appearance framework
• Trump reaction sought

The Biden talent agency:

• Creative Artists Agency signed
• Post-presidency representation
• Speaking engagements
• Book deal potential
• Entertainment framework

Bigger Problems

“I think he’s got bigger problems than that. I want to do. I think he’s got much bigger problems than that, but I wish him well.”

Trump’s framework:

• Bigger problems (twice)
• Wish him well
• Personal framework
• Polite dismissal
• Brief response

The “bigger problems” framework:

• Cognitive decline questions
• Health framework
• Hunter Biden pardon
• Various issues
• Political framework

Inherited Mess

“We inherited a mess. This place is a mess, but it’s quickly being solved, the problem. We’re going to make America great again. Thank you very much.”

Trump’s framework:

• Mess inherited
• Quickly being solved
• MAGA framework
• Closing framework
• Transition framework

Linda McMahon Question

“And on the Education Department, why nominate Linda McMahon to be the Education Department Secretary if you’re in favor of the Education Department?”

The reporter framework:

• Linda McMahon nomination
• Education Department elimination favor
• Apparent contradiction
• Policy clarification
• Framework question

Linda McMahon:

• WWE co-founder
• Small Business Administration (first term)
• Trump ally
• Long-time supporter
• Education Secretary nominee

Put Yourself Out of Job

“Because I told Linda, I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job. I want her to put herself out of a job, Education Department.”

Trump’s framework:

• Told Linda directly
• Great job expectation
• Put yourself out of job
• Department elimination goal
• Paradoxical framework

The elimination framework:

• Department of Education creation 1979 (Carter)
• Republican platform elimination
• Various decades advocacy
• Trump commitment
• Congressional authority needed

Rankings Framework

“So we’re ranked number 40 out of 40 schools, right? We’re ranked number one in cost per pupil.”

Trump’s framework:

• Ranked 40 of 40
• Cost per pupil ranked #1
• Worst outcomes
• Highest spending
• Inefficiency maximum

The actual rankings:

• PISA international assessments
• US mid-range typically
• Various measurements
• Specific subjects vary
• Trump framework selective

The cost framework:

• ~$15,000+ per pupil annually
• Among highest globally
• Various measurements
• Local-state-federal funding
• Expenditure framework

Bottom of List

“So we spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, and we’re ranked at the bottom of the list. We’re ranked very badly.”

Trump’s framework:

• More spending than any country
• Bottom of list
• Very bad ranking
• Inverse relationship
• System failure

States Run Schools

“And what I want to do is let the states run schools. I believe strongly in school choice, but in addition to that, I want the states to run schools. And I want Linda to put herself out of a job.”

Trump’s framework:

• States run schools
• School choice supported
• In addition framework
• States priority
• Linda’s mission

The framework:

• Federal elimination
• State empowerment
• Choice programs
• Parental rights
• Local control

Executive Order Possibility

“So you think that’s something you can do with an executive order? I’d like to be able to.”

Trump’s framework:

• Executive order desired
• Like to be able
• Constitutional question
• Authority limits
• Framework uncertainty

The reality framework:

• Department created by Congress
• Congressional elimination required
• Executive restructuring possible
• Personnel reductions possible
• Various tools

Schools Back to States

“Look, if I could give the schools back to Iowa and Idaho and Indiana and all these places that run properly, there’s many of them. I think so.”

Trump’s framework:

• Iowa mentioned
• Idaho mentioned
• Indiana mentioned
• Run properly framework
• Many such states

The states framework:

• Republican-led states primarily
• Well-run governance
• Education quality varied
• Various frameworks
• Political framework

International Models

“If you look at the list, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, believe it or not, China’s doing very well on that list. A list of well educated, where they run their school system well.”

Trump’s framework:

• Denmark top
• Sweden top
• Norway top
• China surprisingly well
• Well-educated framework

The international education:

• Nordic countries strong
• Finland typically top
• Singapore, South Korea top
• Various Asian countries
• Scandinavian models

“You have a lot of countries, not surprising names.”

Trump’s framework:

• Many countries
• Not surprising
• Consistent framework
• Pattern known
• Standard framework

Well-Run States Comparison

“I think that if you moved our schools into some of these states that are really well run states, they would be as good as Denmark and Norway and Sweden and some of the other states.”

Trump’s framework:

• Well-run states as good as Nordics
• Scandinavian comparison
• State-level excellence possible
• Framework equivalence
• Potential framework

Laggards Framework

“And then you’d have the laggards, and you know who they are, I’m going to have to go to it. But you’d have the laggards, the same laggards that are laggards with everything else, including crime.”

Trump’s framework:

• Laggards identified implicitly
• Known laggards
• Multiple lag areas
• Crime correlation
• Pattern framework

The implicit framework:

• Democrat-run urban areas
• Various policy failures
• Crime correlation
• Education correlation
• Political framework

Break Into Systems

“But even then, you’ll break it into systems. As an example, if you went to New York, you go to Westchester County, you go to Dutchess County, you go to Suffolk and Long Island and Nassau and Long Island. You have maybe six or seven locations and you have New York City, which would include the Fiberos.”

Trump’s framework:

• Large states broken down
• County-level framework
• Westchester County
• Dutchess County
• Suffolk/Long Island
• Nassau/Long Island
• New York City separate

The decentralization framework:

• Sub-state units
• Local framework
• Better governance possible
• Scale framework
• Accountability framework

NYC Separate

“And I think even that would run much better than it does right now. Same thing with Los Angeles or California. You’d have Riverside, you’d break it up into six or seven. But most of them would be states.”

Trump’s framework:

• NYC separate
• Better than current
• LA/California similar
• Riverside breakdown
• Most simply states

The large city framework:

• Los Angeles County huge
• New York City massive
• Scale inefficient
• Break-up beneficial
• Local framework

Iowa Indiana Framework

“And you’d have one, like in Iowa. You give it to the state of Iowa. You give it to the state of Indiana. These are really well run states. They don’t have debt. They don’t have problems. They don’t have any crimes, you know, relatively speaking to speak of.”

Trump’s framework:

• Iowa well-run
• Indiana well-run
• No debt framework
• No problems framework
• Low crime framework
• Relative framework

The Republican-led states:

• Iowa (R)
• Indiana (R)
• Both fiscally conservative
• Various metrics positive
• Political framework

Equivalent to Norway

“And you would have education that would be the equivalent of Norway and Denmark and various other places that are at the top of the list.”

Trump’s framework:

• Norway equivalent
• Denmark equivalent
• Top-of-list education
• State-level achievable
• Potential framework

“So we’re at the bottom of the list and we’re the most expensive. We’re at the top of the list when it comes to cost for people. We spend more money for people than any other nation in the world and yet we’re rated number 40.”

Trump’s framework:

• Bottom of list (outcomes)
• Most expensive (spending)
• Any other nation framework
• Number 40 rating
• Paradox framework

20-30 Notches Up

“The last ratings came out, you saw them. So they talk about 40 countries. We’re rated number 40. And I say that if we did this, we would go 20, 30 notches up. We could do great. And we would have some of the best districts in the world.”

Trump’s framework:

• Last ratings familiar
• 40 countries rated
• US #40
• 20-30 notches improvement
• Great potential
• Best districts globally

Education Reform Context

The Trump education framework:

Department elimination:

• Long-standing Republican goal
• Campaign promise 2024
• Various approaches
• Congressional framework needed
• Various tools

State empowerment:

• Funding to states
• Block grants possibly
• Regulations reduced
• Standards decentralized
• Local control

School choice:

• Private school vouchers
• Charter school support
• Parental rights
• Religious school support
• Various options

McMahon Role

Linda McMahon’s Education Secretary framework:

Mission paradox:

• Lead department
• Eliminate department
• Competing objectives
• Practical challenges
• Political framework

Approach possibilities:

• Regulatory rollback
• Program elimination
• Personnel reductions
• Funding restructure
• Congressional cooperation

Historical framework:

• Various Education Secretaries
• Reform attempts
• Congressional opposition
• Interest groups resistance
• Long project

International Education Framework

The education rankings framework:

Top performers:

• Singapore (math, science)
• South Korea
• Japan
• Estonia
• Finland
• Canada

Nordic performance:

• Generally strong
• Not always top
• Various metrics
• Cultural framework
• Investment framework

Trump’s selective framework:

• Cites Nordic countries
• Mentions China
• US at bottom framework
• Selective emphasis
• Political framework

Significance

The press exchange captured:

1. Biden talent agency: Bigger problems response
2. Inherited mess: Mess being solved
3. McMahon paradox: Put yourself out of job
4. US rankings: 40 of 40 (Trump framework)
5. Cost per pupil: #1 in world
6. States run schools: Federalism restoration
7. Nordic models: Denmark, Sweden, Norway
8. Large state breakup: NYC, LA complex framework

Trump’s response to Biden talent agency was characteristically dismissive yet polite. “Bigger problems” framework without specific attack, “wish him well” courtesy framework.

The McMahon “put yourself out of job” framework captured Department of Education elimination commitment. Paradoxical leadership but clear direction.

The education rankings framework (40 of 40) overstated US position but captured general dissatisfaction. Cost-outcome imbalance real concern regardless of specific rankings.

The state-level devolution framework represented substantive reform plan. Not abstract “eliminate department” but concrete state empowerment framework.

The Nordic comparison provided aspiration framework. Small, well-governed populations achieving educational excellence — model for well-run US states.

Key Takeaways

• Trump on Biden talent agency: “What do you think about Joe Biden signing on with a talent agency? You gotta be kidding. He signed on with a talent agency? I think he’s got bigger problems than that. I think he’s got much bigger problems than that, but I wish him well. We inherited a mess. This place is a mess, but it’s quickly being solved, the problem.”
• Trump on McMahon: “Because I told Linda, I hope you do a great job and put yourself out of a job. I want her to put herself out of a job, Education Department.”
• Trump on rankings: “So we’re ranked number 40 out of 40 schools, right? We’re ranked number one in cost per pupil. So we spend more per pupil than any other country in the world, and we’re ranked at the bottom of the list. We’re ranked very badly.”
• Trump on states: “What I want to do is let the states run schools. I believe strongly in school choice, but in addition to that, I want the states to run schools. If I could give the schools back to Iowa and Idaho and Indiana and all these places that run properly, there’s many of them. You give it to the state of Iowa. You give it to the state of Indiana. These are really well run states. They don’t have debt. They don’t have problems. They don’t have any crimes.”
• Trump on international models: “If you look at the list, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, believe it or not, China’s doing very well on that list. A list of well educated, where they run their school system well. I think that if you moved our schools into some of these states that are really well run states, they would be as good as Denmark and Norway and Sweden. I say that if we did this, we would go 20, 30 notches up.”