Donald Trump’s claim that the leader of The Boy Scouts of America phoned him to compliment him on this controversial recent speech to thousands of its members, has been contradicted by the organisation.

The US President was criticised for his overtly political address at the organisation’s National Jamboree in West Virginia, which saw him criticise Hillary Clinton, rail against the “fake news” media and boast about his election victory.

Mr Trump was subsequently criticised for breaking with decades of tradition and making his speech party political.

But in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he claimed that the head of the Boy Scouts had called him to tell him it was “the greatest speech that was ever made to them”.

"They loved it," he said, adding that he would be the "first to admit" that reaction had been mixed.

Insisting that there had been "a standing ovation from the time I walked out to the time I left, and for five minutes after I had already gone", he said: “And I got a call from the head of the Boy Scouts saying it was the greatest speech that was ever made to them, and they were very thankful."

However, the Boy Scouts told TIME magazine that they were unaware of any call between their national leaders and the White House.

“The Chief Scout Executive’s message to the Scouting community speaks for itself,” a spokesperson said.

In pictures: President Donald Trump on tour Show all 39 1 /39 In pictures: President Donald Trump on tour In pictures: President Donald Trump on tour 20 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud arriving for a reception ahead of a banquet at Murabba Palace in Riyadh Getty Images In pictures: President Donald Trump on tour 20 May 2017 US President Donald Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud being welcomed at Murabba Palace in Riyadh Getty Images In pictures: President Donald Trump on tour 20 May 2017 US President Donald J. Trump with King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during a welcome ceremony with traditional sword dancers at Murabba Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia EPA In pictures: President Donald Trump on tour 20 May 2017 King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud with US President Donald J. 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They were referring to a letter released by Michael Surbaugh, the Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, in which he apologised to anyone offended by Mr Trump’s speech.

"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," it read. "That was never our intent."

Inviting the US President to speak at the jamboree is a “longstanding tradition” and is “in no way an endorsement of any person, party or policies”, he wrote.