02 August, 2017
But Scout leaders, who were forced to apologize for Trump's remarks after he boasted about his election victory, criticized former president Barack Obama and discussed NY parties with "the hottest people", appeared to dispute the claim that they told Trump he gave "the greatest" speech.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump said the Boy Scouts called him after his highly criticized speech at the National Jamboree and told him it was "the greatest speech that was ever made to them". It specified that neither of the organization's two top leaders - President Randall Stephenson and Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh - had placed such a call.
On Wednesday, the Scouts responded, "We are unaware of any such call".
When contacted by the Daily News, a scouting spokesperson referred all questions to a prior statement from Boy Scouts boss Michael Surbaugh apologizing to those "offended by the political rhetoric that was interjected into the jamboree".
Early last week, the president addressed the Boy Scouts of America National Scout Jamboree, and in the absence of any impulse control, Trump treated the children's gathering like a campaign rally in support of himself. "That was never our intent".
"I got a call from the head of the Boy Scouts saying it was the greatest speech that was ever made to them, and they were very thankful", Trump said, also disputing claims the crowd gave a mixed reaction to the controversial speech. It is in no way an endorsement of any person, party or policies.
"They loved it", the President told the Wall Street Journal, according to a transcript of the interview obtained and published by Politico.
Only Donald Trump could screw up a speech to the Boy Scouts - and then keep the debacle going for days and days.
