From 'fake media' to Clinton, Trump brings political attacks to the Scout Jamboree

But from the moment he took the stage, Trump — who was never a Scout himself but touted his role as the "honorary president of the Boy Scouts of America" — started leading them down a very different path.

Over the next 35 minutes, the president threatened to fire one of his Cabinet members, attacked former president Barack Obama, dissed his former rival Hillary Clinton, marveled at the size of the crowd, warned the boys about the "fake media," mocked pollsters and pundits, and said more people would say "Merry Christmas" under his presidency. He also told a rambling tale about a famous, now-deceased home builder that meandered from a Manhattan cocktail party to a yacht and then to places that the president would only allow the boys' imaginations to go. The speech was, in fact, very much like the rally speeches that Trump gave across the country last year, although he sprinkled in some pieces of inspirational advice ("Do something you love") and reflections on Boy Scout values ("We could really use some more loyalty, I will tell you that.").

Trump was joined by former Scouts who serve in his Cabinet, including Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. The latter wore a Scouting outfit for the occasion. "Ryan is an Eagle Scout from Big Sky country in Montana," Trump relayed. As the president's speech continued, Perry appeared to grow bored as he stood behind Trump, chatting with others, flipping through a book and then filming a video of the crowd. Trump began the official address, delivered from a lectern with the presidential seal, by pledging to talk about things loftier than politics.