On July 23, President Donald Trump visited the National Jamboree, making him the eighth sitting president to do so.[11] The appearance also marked Trump's first visit to West Virginia as president.[12] During his 35-minute speech, Trump boasted about his 2016 electoral victory, complained about former President Barack Obama, derided former opponent Hillary Clinton, criticized the media, and shared an anecdote about real estate developer William Levitt, a yacht, and a cocktail party.[11][13]
Trump's partisan speech marked a sharp break from past tradition; every other president to speak at the Scout Jamboree in its 80 years of existence addressed purely nonpartisan themes, such as citizenship, public service, and civic engagement.[14] Trump's speech was met with scrutiny by parents, scout leaders and politicians, who stated that the Jamboree was an inappropriate venue for campaigning. Following the backlash, the Boy Scouts of America issued a statement that did not comment on Trump's speech, but asserted that the organization was "wholly non-partisan" and that a president's appearance "is in no way an endorsement of any political party or specific policies.