Trump drags children into signing ceremony to dismantle DOE drawing eerie comparisons to North Korea

President Donald Trump signed an order to dismantle the Department of Education in a highly publicized ceremony where he prominently featured children
UPDATED MAR 21, 2025
The children sat at school desks behind President Trump while he signed the order and displayed it for the cameras (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The children sat at school desks behind President Trump while he signed the order and displayed it for the cameras (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump's decision to drag children into the signing ceremony on Thursday, March 20, to dismantle the Department of Education drew eerie comparisons to North Korean tactics.

Trump didn’t arrive alone at the televised signing of his executive order to eliminate DOE but brought over a dozen children along for the ride, according to Daily Beast.



 

Trump drags children to signing ceremony to abolish DOE

The children sat at school desks behind Trump as he signed the order and held it up for the cameras. Children mirrored his actions as each one signed their version of the order and held it up in unison, per the outlet.

The event was attended by Republican governors, Republican congress members, and members of conservative activist organizations, along with teachers and the children's families.

Interestingly, when the POTUS approached the desk for the signing, he asked the children, "Should I do this?" and they said "Yes".

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department alongside school children signing their own versions, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. The order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon, former head of the Small Business Administration and co-founder of the World Wrestling Entertainment, to shrink the $100 billion department, which cannot be dissolved without Congressional approval. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump signs an executive order to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department alongside school children signing their own versions, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2025, in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Trump said Thursday that his order would "begin eliminating the federal Department of Education once and for all," but noted that Congress would need to take action to complete the process.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said before the signing, "The Department of Education will be much smaller than it is today. When it comes to student loans and Pell grants, those will still be run out of the Department of Education."

Notably, since starting his second term as president, Trump has pushed to dismantle the Department of Education, which Congress established in 1979 to shift control to the states.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: U.S. President Donald Trump greets school children before signing an executive order to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. The order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon, former head of the Small Business Administration and co-founder of the World Wrestling Entertainment, to shrink the $100 billion department, which cannot be dissolved without Congressional approval. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump greets school children before signing an executive order to reduce the size and scope of the Education Department during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on March 20, 2025, in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

According to reports, the order will direct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to drastically shrink the department, potentially shutting it down entirely, according to the Irish Star.

It means that McMahon will need to take "all necessary steps to facilitate the closure and return education authority to the states."

Moreover, public school advocates argued that dismantling the DOE would harm children in an already unequal US education system.

Internet slams Trump as he drags children into signing ceremony to abolish DOE 

Several internet users took a jibe at Trump as he dragged children into the signing ceremony to abolish DOE and some even compared his actions to North Korean tactics.

A user wrote on X, "The frenetic race to turn the United States into North Korea is advancing with every day that goes by," while one added, "People who voted for Donald Trump. You all voted to make America like North Korea. How sad."



 



 

A person also stated, "The kid on the left giving Donald Trump the side eye before he signs his meaningless executive order to get rid of the Department of Education is all of us," whereas one mentioned, "Using kids as props…he has no shame!!"



 



 

A user also wrote, "How long before a judge calls his executive order b******t?"

One commented, "Trump’s executive order to dismantle Education is a reckless move, risking kids’ futures for political points. Shameful."



 



 

A person added, "Guys, is it even legal to get rid of the Dept of Education like this? I still can’t believe it…"



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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