WASHINGTON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Boy Scouts chief Thursday made a public apology after questions were raised regarding a politically charged speech given to boy scouts by U.S. President Donald Trump.
"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," Chief Scout Executive for the Boy Scouts of America Mike Surbaugh said in a statement.
"We have steadfastly remained non-partisan and refused to comment on political matters. We sincerely regret that politics were inserted into the Scouting program," Surbaugh said.
Surbaugh's apology was in reference to Trump's speech at the Boy Scout National Jamboree Monday, during which he attacked the U.S. media, political opponent Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama.
Inviting sitting presidents is a tradition, not endorsements, Surbaugh said.
Trump spoke to some 40,000 scouts in the U.S. state of West Virginia, and boasted of his election victory to the scouts, most of whom are yet to reach voting age.
The crowd at one point cheered "We love Trump," and booed Obama.
Trump's speech has angered some parents and former scouts, who believed that the youth group should stay clear of politics.
Boy Scouts of America, founded in 1910, is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States with 2.4 million youth participants.
