Tim Tebow is not speaking at the Republican National Convention, despite what an RNC spokesman told Fox News on Thursday.
“I wake up this morning to find out that I’m speaking at the Republican National Convention. It’s amazing how fast rumors fly. And that’s exactly what it is, a rumor,” Tebow said in a Facebook video posted late Thursday night.
The New York Times first reported on Thursday that Tebow, a former NFL quarterback, would speak at the Republican National Convention and the RNC chief strategist and communications director Sean Spicer appeared on Fox News to confirm the news shortly after.
The RNC and Trump campaign did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s separate requests for comment. Spicer, however, was asked about the situation Friday morning on CNN.
“I think that we would love to have him, don’t get me wrong,” Spicer said. “There was some speculation that he might be coming. I think he’s cleared that up.”
Tebow became a top trend across social media when it was thought he would speak at the convention. The announcement was picked up by major media outlets across the country — including TheWrap.
Times reporter Maggie Haberman openly pondered if the misinformation was something intentionally put out by the Trump campaign.
Is it a "rumor" when Trump senior advisors are confirming it to reporters or is it misinformation from campaign? https://t.co/lbNg2lioED
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) July 15, 2016
Tebow said that his goal “has always been to be able to make a difference in the biggest way possible” and right now he believes that is through his foundation.
The roster of speakers still includes Peter Thiel, professional golfer Natalie Gulbis, Trump’s wife Melania Trump, UFC president Dana White, former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, actress Kimberlin Brown, actor Antonio Sabato Jr., real estate mogul Thomas J. Barrack Jr. and Pam Bondi, the Florida attorney general who was recently grilled by CNN’s Anderson Cooper following the Orlando nightclub massacre.
Other speakers include House Speaker Paul Ryan Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ben Carson and former Trump rival Ted Cruz.
Watch Tebow’s Facebook video below.