President Donald Trump's speech to 25,000 boy scouts has been labelled 'classless and disgraceful' by attendees of the event.
Addressing the National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia on Tuesday (NZT) Mr Trump asked the crowd, "Who the hell wants to speak about politics when I'm in front of the Boy Scouts?"
Turns out he did, and the political speech that focused on fake news, the economy and recounting his victory left parents and Boy Scout affiliates furious.
US correspondent Patrice Howard told the AM Show on Wednesday the speech differed from any other in the 80-year tradition.
"Very rarely do we see the president go into politics. This is typically a chance where the president talks to these boys' aged 12 to 18 about citizenship, and leadership and volunteerism - they don't typically focus on the nitty gritty politics of America."
Mr Trump was never a scout but described himself as the "honorary president of the Boy Scouts of America".
Throughout the speech Mr Trump thanked his audience, consisting largely of children, for voting for him.
He also assured the Scouts they can say "Merry Christmas" again.
"By the way, under the Trump administration, you'll be saying 'Merry Christmas' again when you go shopping. Believe me. Merry Christmas. They've been downplaying that little, beautiful phrase. You're going to be saying 'Merry Christmas' again, folks."
During the speech the president threatened to fire a Cabinet member, attacked Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, marvelled at the size of the crowd, and warned the boys about the "fake media".
Threatening Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, he said, "hopefully, he's going to get the votes tomorrow to start our path toward killing this horrible thing known as Obamacare that's really hurting us, folks."
"He better get them. He better get them. Oh, he better- otherwise, I'll say 'Tom, you're fired!'".
Recounting his victories state by state, he called Washington a "cesspool, or perhaps a sewer" in reference to his campaign cry to "drain the swamp."
Reminiscent of his campaign rallies, he referred to the size of the crowd and attacked the "fake media" for refusing to broadcast it, despite CNN airing the speech.
"Man, this is a lot of people. Turn those cameras back there, please. That is so incredible. By the way, 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? The fake media will say: President Trump - and you know what this is - President Trump spoke before a small crowd of Boy Scouts today. That's some - that is some crowd. Fake media. Fake news."
He also told a rambling story about parties with a wealthy real estate friend with a yacht, and alluded to "interesting" hijinks that went on while on board.
The criticisms on the Boy Scouts' Facebook page range from calling for "a total disavowing of what took place today" and complaining that Trump tried "to turn the BSA into the Trump Youth" to simply stating that "the display at the rally in WVA today was appalling."
The Boy Scouts of America have released a statement that, while refraining from condemning Trump for his partisan remarks, clearly establishes that it is not endorsing his political agenda.
Newshub.
