Tebow taking a pass on the GOP Convention
JACKSONVILLE – News reports that Tim Tebow would be among the featured speakers at the upcoming Republican National Convention surprised some people — including Tebow himself. The presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump had said he wanted sports stars at the convention and Tebow fit the bill.
The University of Florida’s 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback posted a video on his Instagram account Thursday night denying he had agreed to speak at the convention, which will be held July 18-21 in Cleveland. He had just returned to his Jacksonville home only to find out that he was on the GOP Convention speakers roster.
“I just got back from the Philippines and I wake up this morning to find that I’m speaking at the Republican National Convention,” Tebow said “It’s amazing how fast rumors fly and that’s exactly what it is — a rumor.”
Tebow was quick to stop the rumor once he was aware of what happened “My goal has always been to be able to make a difference in the biggest way possible. And if one day that’s in the political realm, that’s what I’ll do. But right now, I really believe that’s through my foundation and our amazing partners in fighting for kids who can’t fight for themselves.”
The Trump campaign had invited Tebow to speak, according to a person directly involved in the planning and invitation process. However, no one informed the former Gator star who was traveling at the time of the invitation.
The New York Times and others reported that he was on a list of speakers the campaign had settled on.
But like other sports stars whom Donald Trump said he would like to have appear at the convention — Tom Brady and Serena Williams, for example — Tebow is out.
Tebow would have been an attractive choice but for now being involved with politics is something he is not planning on doing. He made a display of religiosity during his football career, giving him celebrity status among many Republicans.
And he has made his socially conservative views known, once appearing in an anti-abortion ad for Focus on the Family. But for now he is taking a pass on speaking at any political party’s convention including the one starting Monday in Cleveland.
