Rudy Giuliani, Members Of Trump's Family Slated To Speak At GOP Convention
CLEVELAND (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Politicians, celebrities and members of Donald Trump's family are among those slated to speak at the Republican National Convention set to begin Monday.
The convention released a partial list of speakers Thursday for what it called its upcoming "week-long, all-star event" in Cleveland.
It includes names such as former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Trump rivals Sen. Ted Cruz and Dr. Ben Carson, Gov. Mike Huckabee, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.
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Also on the list is billionaire Silicon Valley entrepreneur Peter Thiel, astronaut Eileen Collins, actor Antonio Sabato, Jr., Jerry Falwell Jr. and Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White.
Published reports had indicated also that Heisman-winning quarterback Tim Tebow was also slated to speak at the convention, according to published reports. But Tebow said in a video posted to Facebook late Thursday that the plan to him speak was just a rumor.
"My goal has always been to be able to make a difference in the biggest way possible, and if one day that's a political realm, than that's what I'll do," Tebow said. "But right now, I really believe that that's through my foundation and our amazing partners, and fighting for kids that can't fight for ourselves."
Tebow was not included on the list of speakers.
Vice presidential contenders Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are also on the list as well as Trump's wife, Melania, and some of his children.
Missing from the list are some of the usual rank-and-file members of the party, including Sen. John McCain, Mitt Romney and any of the Bushes.
A number of GOP senators have also said they will be skipping the convention this year.
To see the full list of speakers, click here.
Meanwhile, Trump's campaign and Republican party leaders are meeting Thursday to begin what could be a two-day faceoff at the convention's rules committee.
That panel's initial votes should demonstrate how firmly Trump and Priebus control the convention.
In play will be proposals by anti-Trump forces to let delegates vote for anyone they want, not the candidate they were "bound'' to support after primaries and caucuses.
On Wednesday, Priebus signaled that it's time for the insurrectionists to rally behind Trump.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
