Trump Used A Boy Scout Gathering To Launch Political Attacks And Troop Leaders Are Not Happy

President Donald Trump delivered an overtly political speech Monday to a national gathering of thousands of Boy Scouts in West Virginia, prompting criticism from current and former troop leaders.

Trump kicked off his speech to throngs of 12 to 18-year-olds at the National Scout Jamboree, by asking rhetorically "Who the hell wants to speak about politics when I'm in front of the Boy Scouts, right?" He then spent most of the speech talking about politics.

Over the course of his 35 minute address, Trump joked about firing Tom Price, the secretary of Health and Human Services, if Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare fail; criticized the "fake media" several times; celebrated the margin of his electoral victory over Hillary Clinton; and boasted about the economy and stock market.

The president also bragged about the size of the crowd, claiming a record 45,000 people were in attendance, but said that the news media would report "it's about 200."

“What do you think the chances are that this incredible, massive crowd, record-setting, is going to be shown on television tonight? One percent or zero,” he told the gathering. "The fake media will say President Trump spoke before a small crowd of Boy Scouts today. That's some — that is some crowd. Fake media, fake news."

The Boy Scouts of America told BuzzFeed News in a statement it could not confirm Trump's claim.