Linda McMahon’s “A1” AI Blunder: Credentials, Criticism, and a Saucy Response

A reflection on tech illiteracy, leadership failure, and the cost to our future.

Avi Penhollow

Linda McMahon’s appointment as U.S. Secretary of Education was already controversial due to her limited experience in education. Her recent confusion of “AI” (artificial intelligence) with “A1” steak sauce at a major education summit has only intensified scrutiny—while providing the internet with a feast of jokes.

Credentials and Experience: A Razor Thin Résumé for Education Leadership

Linda McMahon’s background is rooted in business, not education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French from East Carolina University and is certified to teach the language, but her direct classroom experience is minimal[1][7]. Her most prominent roles have been as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and as head of the Small Business Administration under President Trump[1][4][7].

Her education-related experience includes a brief stint on the Connecticut State Board of Education and 16 years as a trustee at Sacred Heart University[1][7]. While she has advocated for career and technical education, critics note that her policy experience is thin compared to previous education secretaries[4][7]. Her appointment was confirmed by a narrow Senate vote, reflecting bipartisan skepticism[5][7].

When EdTech Meets the Steakhouse

At the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit, McMahon was tasked with discussing the future of artificial intelligence in education. She started strong, referencing “AI development” and the need for technology in schools. But as her remarks continued, she repeatedly swapped “AI” for “A1,” the famous steak sauce[2][3][5][6][8]:

“A school system that’s going to start making sure that first graders, or even pre-Ks, have A1 teaching every year. That’s a wonderful thing!” she declared, prompting laughter from the audience[3][5][6][8].

She continued, “Kids are sponges. They just absorb everything. It wasn’t all that long ago that we were talking about bringing internet access into our schools! Now let’s see A1 and how that can be helpful”[3][5][6][8].

This wasn’t a one-off slip: McMahon referenced “A1” multiple times throughout her panel, leaving listeners to wonder if the future of education was about algorithms or marinades[2][3][5][6][8].

A.1. Sauce’s Response: Seizing the Moment

The A.1. Sauce brand, owned by Kraft Heinz, quickly capitalized on the viral moment. On Instagram, they posted an image of their iconic bottle labeled “For education purposes only,” with the caption:

“You heard her. Every school should have access to A.1.”

“Agree, best to start them early,” the post read, drawing thousands of likes and a flood of comments[3][5][6][8].

Fans joined in, with one quipping, “My husband wants a bottle for his desk. He teaches middle school, at least until they replace him with A.1.,” and another adding, “When it comes to education, there’s so much at ‘steak’”[6].

The incident has fueled ongoing criticism of McMahon’s qualifications. Her earlier inability to define IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) on national television had already raised alarms among educators and advocates. Now, the “A1” gaffe has become a symbol of her perceived lack of preparedness for the role[4][7].

Meanwhile, President Trump’s stated desire to dismantle the Department of Education altogether has left the agency in a state of uncertainty, with staff layoffs and morale at a low[5][7].

A1 Jokes: The Internet’s Grade-A Response

While the situation is serious, the internet couldn’t resist a little wordplay. Here are some of the best A1-themed jokes inspired by McMahon’s blunder:

- “Will the next standardized test be multiple choice or medium rare?”

- “If students don’t pass, do they get grilled?”

- “Maybe she’s just trying to spice up the curriculum.”

- “With A1 in every classroom, at least the report cards will be well-seasoned.”

- “Forget STEM—welcome to the SIRLOIN initiative: Students In Robust Learning Of Intelligent Nutrition.”

Linda McMahon’s repeated confusion of AI with A1 steak sauce has become a viral symbol of her lack of educational expertise. While the A.1. brand and the internet have had fun with the moment, the episode underscores serious concerns about the leadership and direction of the Department of Education under her tenure[2][3][5][6][8]. For now, the only thing more mixed up than her acronyms might be the future of federal education policy.

Sources

[1] Linda E. McMahon | U.S. Department of Education https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-organization/meet-secretary-of-education/linda-e-mcmahon

[2] A.1. responds after Linda McMahon mistakes it with AI https://www.livenowfox.com/news/mcmahon-a1-linda-education-secretary-ai-artificial-intelligence

[3] US Education Secretary Linda McMahon makes a 'Saucy AI Blunder' at education summit, sauce brand Kraft He https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/us-education-secretary-linda-mcmahon-makes-a-saucy-ai-blunder-at-education-summit-sauce-brand-kraft-heinz-responds/articleshow/120254296.cms

[4] Who is Linda McMahon, Trump's pick for education secretary? - NPR https://www.npr.org/2025/02/08/nx-s1-5251642/linda-mcmahon-trump-wwe-education-secretary-nominee

[5] Linda McMahon says 'A.1.' instead of AI during education panel https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/12/linda-mcmahon-a1-instead-of-ai/83059797007/

[6] A.1. Sauce Has Hilarious Response After Secretary of Education ... https://people.com/a1-steak-sauce-has-hilarious-response-after-secretary-of-education-linda-mcmahon-flubs-11714927

[7] Linda McMahon, New US Education Secretary: Check Her ... - NDTV https://www.ndtv.com/education/linda-mcmahon-new-us-education-secretary-check-her-qualifications-7847868

[8] Linda McMahon 'A1' blunder goes viral, steak sauce brand responds https://www.yahoo.com/news/linda-mcmahon-a1-blunder-goes-171603221.html

[9] Internet Clowns Linda McMahon For Mixing A.1 Sauce With A.I. https://www.blackenterprise.com/internet-clowns-linda-mcmahon-for-mixing-a1-sauce-with-ai/

[10] Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education: Background and ... https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/linda-mcmahon-u-s-secretary-of-education-background-and-achievements/2025/03

[11] Linda McMahon - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_McMahon

[12] United_States_Secretary_of_Education https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_Education

[13] Linda McMahon | Archives of Women's Political Communication https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/linda-mcmahon/

[14] The 19th: Linda McMahon is the new education secretary https://www.equalrights.org/news/the-19th-linda-mcmahon-is-the-new-education-secretary-but-the-departments-future-isnt-guaranteed/

[15] What to know about Education Secretary Linda McMahon - Axios https://www.axios.com/2025/03/20/education-secretary-linda-mcmahon-trump

[16] Linda McMahon's background as Trump's pick for education secretary https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/linda-mcmahons-background-trumps-pick-education-secretary/story?id=116058197

[17] Linda McMahon's haphazard cuts to the Department of Education ... https://thehill.com/opinion/education/5195692-education-department-cuts-mcmahon/

[18] Four Things to Know About Secretary of Education Nominee Linda ... https://nationalskillscoalition.org/blog/news/four-things-to-know-about-secretary-of-education-nominee-linda-mcmahon/

[19] WWE Exec Linda McMahon Is Poised to Oversee the End of the ... https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/linda-mcmahon-confirmed-poised-oversee-end-trumps-education-department/

[20] Linda McMahon once said she had an education degree. She doesn't. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2024/11/20/linda-mcmahon-education-secretary-degree-discrepancy/76451271007/

[21] Full text of Secretary Linda McMahon's email to the Dept. of Education https://www.reddit.com/r/StudentLoans/comments/1j3c85f/full_text_of_secretary_linda_mcmahons_email_to/

[22] Education Secretary Linda McMahon confuses AI with A1, sauce ... https://www.aol.com/education-secretary-linda-mcmahon-confuses-174824398.html

[23] Education secretary confuses AI with A1 in viral speech blunder https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/politics/2025/04/14/education-secretary-confuses-ai-with-a1-viral-speech-blunder/83077432007/

[24] Maddow on Trump's education secy. fumbling 'AI' pronunciation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trt9xs3tgXk

[25] Linda McMahon Confuses 'AI' For A Steak Sauce - Yahoo https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/linda-mcmahon-confuses-ai-steak-142619024.html

[26] Education Secretary Linda McMahon confuses AI with A1, sauce ... https://www.yahoo.com/news/education-secretary-linda-mcmahon-confuses-174824398.html

[27] Trump Education Secretary Linda McMahon got lost on the A1 sauce | Opinion https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/04/15/trump-department-of-education-mcmahon-a1-ai/83101568007/

[28] Linda McMahon's AI Mistake and A.1 Sauce's Response | TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@dannied01/video/7492544128148917547

[29] Where Did Linda McMahon Go to College? - BestColleges.com https://www.bestcolleges.com/news/where-did-linda-mchmahon-go-to-college/

[30] Warren, Kim Question Trump ED Secretary Nominee Linda ... https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-kim-question-trump-ed-secretary-nominee-linda-mcmahons-lack-of-experience-extreme-views-in-advance-of-nomination-hearing

[31] Meet Linda McMahon, education secretary nominee - EdNC https://www.ednc.org/who-is-linda-mcmahon-from-ecu-grad-to-a-education-secretary-nominee-a-look-beyond-the-headlines/

[32] Linda McMahon led WWE and the SBA. The U.S. Education ... - OPB https://www.opb.org/article/2025/02/08/who-is-linda-mcmahon-trumps-pick-for-education-secretary/

[33] Linda McMahon is the new education secretary - The 19th News https://19thnews.org/2025/03/linda-mcmahon-confirmed-education-secretary/

[34] Linda McMahon mixed up AI and A.1. — so of course now the steak sauce is all over it https://qz.com/linda-mcmahon-artificial-intelligence-ai-a-1-1851775785

[35] A.1. Sauce is seizing the moment after Linda McMahon's 'AI' gaffe https://www.businessinsider.com/a1-steak-sauce-linda-mcmahon-ai-gaffe-marketing-instagram-2025-4

[36] Education Secretary Linda McMahon confuses AI with A1, sauce ... https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/1jynef6/education_secretary_linda_mcmahon_confuses_ai/

[37] Linda McMahon Confuses ‘AI’ For A Steak Sauce https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1554389-linda-mcmahon-confuses-ai-for-a-steak-sauce

[38] Education Secretary Linda McMahon confuses AI with A1, sauce brand capitalizes on blunder https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/12/linda-mcmahon-a1-instead-of-ai/83059797007/

[39] McMahon mixes up AI with A.1.? - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb-a5uX9uVY