Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow made a surprise visit with President Donald Trump in the White House on Tuesday, amid his efforts to stop child sexual abuse.
Tebow, a Heisman Trophy winner in college, testified in front of lawmakers last year to rally support for a bill, the Renewed Hope Act, which would aim to rescue thousands of child victims of sexual abuse and better equip Homeland Security to help those affected.
On Tuesday, him, his wife Dani-Leigh and US Secretary State Marco Rubio appeared alongside President Trump in the Oval Office, with the first three doing the University of Florida‘s signature ‘gator chomp’ in a photo posted by White House communications advisor Margo Martin.
Trump smiled as he sat in a chair in front of them.
Tebow starred at Florida in college and won two national championships with the school, while Rubio is also an alum of the university and previously served as a Florida Senator.
Trump has yet to address his meeting with Tebow, who last played in the NFL in 2012.
Tim Tebow, his wife Dani-Leigh and Secretary of State Marco Rubio perform the ‘gator chomp’ in front of President Donald Trump
Tebow, who played three seasons in the NFL, is seen after a game vs. the Patriots in 2011
The ex-QB, seen last year, has been a college football analyst for ESPN since 2017
The former Broncos passer told the House Judiciary Committee last March that an international database housed by Interpol possessed photos and videos of at least 50,000 unidentified children being sexually exploited.
Tebow, whose eponymous foundation launched in 2010, said of his organization, ‘… we fight for those who cannot fight for themselves – and that is exactly why we are here today.’
As noted by the Tim Tebow Foundation website, the bill would require the hiring and training of at least 200 ‘investigators, computer forensics, and criminal analysts to the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit and HSI field offices.’
The bill was also backed by Senator John Cornyn of Texas, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Representative Laurel Lee of Florida, and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida.
Before Trump’s first term, it was reported that Tebow would be speaking at the Republican National Convention in 2016, in support of Trump.
Tebow later said he knew nothing about the ‘rumor,’ as he called it in a video posted to social media, and said he would not be speaking at the RNC.
The former passer, now 37, was drafted 25th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft and played in 35 games (16 starts) for the Broncos.
He is known by most pro fans for his game-winning touchdown pass to the late Demaryius Thomas in the 2012 playoffs.
Tebow has appeared on ESPN as a college football analyst since 2017.
