Not just run-of-the-mill political speeches for Donald Trump’s gold-plated convention in Cleveland.
Trump aides are reportedly lining up a schedule of speakers that include former athletes and celebrities to share his spotlight at the Republican National Convention next month.
Bloomberg News, citing “people familiar with the planning,” reported Tuesday that those on Trump’s list include former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, college basketball legend Bobby Knight and NASCAR chairman Brian France.
Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump’s daughter, confirmed in a radio interview Wednesday on WHTK that some athletes and coaches would be invited to speak. She said that it would be a convention “unlike any we’ve ever seen.”
“It’s not gonna be a ho-hum lineup of, you know, the typical politicians,” she said, as first flagged by BuzzFeed News. “It’s gonna be a great combination of our great politicians, but also great American businessmen and women and leaders across industry and leaders across really all the sectors, from athletes to coaches and everything in between.”
Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday that Tyson was not asked to speak at the convention and suggested that the media made it up. Trump has supported Tyson after the boxer was convicted of rape in 1992. France was met with considerable criticism after he endorsed Trump in March. Knight has also endorsed Trump.
Ditka has before praised Trump, saying that he had what it takes to make America great again.” In response to the praise, Trump said he’d “love to have Mike involved in some capacity.”
“Why? Because Mike knows how to win and our politicians don’t,” Trump said at the time.
Listen to Ivanka Trump’s comments:
