Boy Scout leader apologizes for Trump’s political rhetoric

NEW YORK >> The Boy Scouts’ chief executive apologized today to members of the scouting community who were offended by the aggressive political rhetoric in President Donald Trump’s recent speech to the Scouts’ national jamboree.

The apology came in a statement from Chief Scout Executive Michael Surbaugh, three days after Trump’s speech to nearly 40,000 scouts and adults gathered in West Virginia.

Other U.S. presidents have delivered nonpolitical speeches at past jamborees. To the dismay of many parents and former scouts, Trump, a Republican, promoted his political agenda and derided his rivals, inducing some of the scouts in attendance to boo at the mention of Barack Obama, his Democratic predecessor.

“I want to extend my sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted into the jamboree,” Surbaugh said. “That was never our intent… We sincerely regret that politics were inserted into the Scouting program.”

Surbaugh noted that every sitting president since 1937 has been invited to visit the jamboree.

“It is in no way an endorsement of any person, party or policies,” he said. “For years, people have called upon us to take a position on political issues, and we have steadfastly remained non-partisan and refused to comment on political matters.”

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, at a news briefing, was asked about the Boy Scouts’ statement and whether Trump owes them an apology.

Sanders said that she’d been at the event and didn’t see anything inappropriate.

“I saw nothing but roughly 40-45,000 boy scouts cheering the president on throughout his remarks,” she said. “And I think they were pretty excited that he was there and happy to hear him speak to them.”

Asked about the parents who have publicly criticized the speech, Sanders said she had nothing to add.

Surbaugh, in his statement, contended that the Trump controversy has not diminished the success of the 10-day jamboree, yet he acknowledged its impact.

“Scouts have continued to trade patches, climb rock walls, and share stories about the day’s adventures,” he said. “But for our Scouting family at home not able to see these real moments of Scouting, we know the past few days have been overshadowed by the remarks offered by the President of the United States.”

His statement echoed some of the sentiments expressed by the Boy Scouts’ president, Randall Stephenson, in a phone interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Stephenson said Boy Scout leaders anticipated Trump would spark controversy with a politically tinged speech, yet felt obliged to invite him out of respect for his office.

Hoping to minimize friction, the Boy Scouts issued guidelines to adult staff members for how the audience should react to the speech. Any type of political chanting was specifically discouraged.

Stephenson, who was not in attendance at Trump’s speech, said the guidance wasn’t followed impeccably.

“There were some areas where perhaps they were not in compliance with what we instructed,” he said. “There’s probably criticism that could be leveled.”

Stephenson was asked whether the Scouts would invite Trump back to address the next national jamboree if he wins re-election.

“I don’t see why we would break with tradition, whoever is holding office,” Stephenson said. “We are not to going to censor or edit the president of the United States. That’s beyond our pay grade, regardless of who it is.”