--- title: Donald Trump: Reactions to 2017 Boy Scout Jamboree Speech description: President Trump's speech at the 2017 Boy Scout Jamboree has drawn criticism, with some comparing the speech to a "political rally" canonical: https://time.com/4872107/trump-boy-scout-speech-reactions/ author: Suyin Haynes article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-07-25T05:28:14.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T09:25:10.545Z article:section: Politics og:title: Past and Present Scouts React to Trump's Jamboree Speech og:description: "Shocking abuse of children" og:url: https://time.com/4872107/trump-boy-scout-speech-reactions/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbc47bc54c4d824e3/6988d6ff4ee262b75930e486/gettyimages-821810776.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4686 og:image:height: 2636 og:image:alt: US-POLITICS-TRUMP og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Past and Present Scouts React to Trump's Jamboree Speech twitter:description: "Shocking abuse of children" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbc47bc54c4d824e3/6988d6ff4ee262b75930e486/gettyimages-821810776.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Current and Former Boy Scouts React to President Trump's Jamboree Speech > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=46fdfe26-2a3f-4ec1-ba2a-e8888c0323ac&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: President Trump Brags About His Election Victory During Boy Scout Jamboree Speech [Watch (HLS stream): President Trump Brags About His Election Victory During Boy Scout Jamboree Speech](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/jgJePnRt.m3u8) (1:30)  _Published 2017-07-25. President Donald Trump spoke Monday night at the 2017 Boy Scout Jamboree, where he bragged about his victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 campaign and bashed the media._ by [Suyin Haynes](https://time.com/author/suyin-haynes/) ## Suyin Haynes Jul 25, 2017 5:28 AM UTC President Donald Trump spoke Monday night at the 2017 Boy Scout Jamboree, where he bragged about his victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 campaign and bashed the media. by [Suyin Haynes](https://time.com/author/suyin-haynes/) ## Suyin Haynes Jul 25, 2017 5:28 AM UTC President Trump’s speech at the [2017 Boy Scout Jamboree](http://time.com/4871947/donald-trump-boy-scout-jamboree/) has drawn criticism from former Boy Scouts and current Scout leaders alike, with some comparing the speech to a [“political rally.”](https://twitter.com/OpPigRoast/status/889641079800287234) During Monday night’s speech, [Trump referred to](http://time.com/4872118/trump-boy-scout-jamboree-speech-transcript/) “this horrible thing known as Obamacare,” called for “more loyalty” and recounted the night of his election as “that famous night on television.” Trump also repeated his claims against “fake media” and “fake news,” despite commencing the speech by saying “we’re going to put that aside.” While the speech was interspersed with applause and chants of “USA! USA! USA!” from the audience, Trump’s comments about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton also elicited boos from the crowd, which was highlighted by users on social media. > [](https://twitter.com/MuslimIQ/status/889640496796246016) > [](https://twitter.com/kate4ez/status/889636357626363904) Former Chief Official White House Photographer Pete Souza made his own comparison between Obama and Trump via Instagram. Current Scout leaders and former Scouts, as well as parents, also used Twitter to voice their criticism of the nature of Trump’s speech. > [](https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/889651708225351680) > [](https://twitter.com/MMFlint/status/889684573864558592) > [](https://twitter.com/dankennedy%5Fnu/status/889628924774363136) > [](https://twitter.com/TedGenoways/status/889643017015001088) > [](https://twitter.com/BakesDeb/status/889640574692843520) In a [statement](http://thehill.com/homenews/news/343545-obama-booed-at-trump-boy-scout-rally), the Boy Scouts of America said that it is “wholly non-partisan and does not promote any one position, product, service, political candidate or philosophy. The invitation for the sitting U.S. President to visit the National Jamboree is a long-standing tradition and is in no way an endorsement of any political party or specific policies.” ## Transcript Secretary Tom Price is also here. Today Dr. Price still lives [ UNKNOWN ] helping to keep millions of Americans strong and healthy as our Secretary of Health and Human Services and he's doing a great job. And hopefully, he's going to get the votes tomorrow to start our path Toward killing this horrible thing known as Obama Care that's really hurting us. [ APPLAUSE ] By the way, you're gonna get the votes? They better get them, they better get them. I bet, otherwise I'll say Tom, you're fired. I'll get somebody. [ APPLAUSE ] [ SOUND ] The scouts believe in putting America first. [ APPLAUSE ] You know I go to Washington and I see all these politicians, and I see the swamp And it's not a good place. In fact today I said we ought to change it from the word swamp to the word cess pool or perhaps to the word sewer, but it's not good. Boys scout values are American values, and great boys scouts become great, great, Americans. As the Scout Law says, a scout is trustworthy, loyal. 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