Donald Trump could ask Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger to speak at GOP convention
Is Donald Trump angling for a sports-themed convention?
By
Ryan Wilson
•
1 min read
It's no secret that Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, considers Patriots quarterback Tom Brady a good friend. And Trump may look to cash in on that friendship at the Republican National Convention, where he could ask Brady and other sports stars to speak on his behalf.
That list could include Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, UFC president Dana White, NASCAR owner Brian France and former Indiana University coach Bob Knight, according to the New York Times.
"We're going to do it a little different, if it's OK," Trump said during a speech on Friday night in Richmond, Virginia, via the Times. "I'm thinking about getting some of the great sports people who like me a lot."
Trump considers these sports figures "winners," as opposed to the usual convention fare -- "these people, these politicians who are going to get up and speak and speak and speak."
Last September, Brady, who says Trump is "a good friend of mine," called the possibility of a Trump presidency "great."
Meanwhile, during an April rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Trump referred to Roethlisberger as a friend, adding: "But Big Ben is great, and he's a winner. He's a winner."
#TrumpinRVA Trump still talking about sports and athletes who like him. No policy talk though.
— Drew Wilder (@DrewWilderNBC12) June 11, 2016
After mentioning his love for Tom Brady, Trump says that "In Pennsylvania, Big Ben loves Donald Trump."
— Al Weaver (@alweaver22) June 11, 2016
Trump has dropped his stump to talk about Bobby Knight for like the last three or four minutes.
— Alana Wise (@alanawise_) June 11, 2016
Whether Brady or Roethlisberger would agree to Trump's request is another matter. The only things more divisive than sports fandom are topics on religion and politics. Trump is a polarizing figure, and big-time athletes trying to maintain well-crafted images that are boring by design likely won't want to get in the middle of a contentious presidential election.
