On his first full day in office, President Donald Trump attended the traditional inaugural prayer service at Washington National Cathedral, where Episcopal Bishop Marianne Budde delivered a highly charged sermon that directly addressed the president and his policies.
Budde, known for her advocacy on left-leaning causes, urged Trump to show compassion toward illegal immigrants, LGBT individuals and trans-identifying children in what some described as a politically driven address.
The service, meant to symbolize unity and prayer for the new administration, took a sharp turn when the 65-year-old spoke pointedly about the fears of marginalized groups under Trump’s presidency. Standing at the pulpit, she called on the president to “have mercy” on those she claimed were vulnerable due to his policies.
“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country that are scared now,” she told Trump, according to the Daily Mail. “There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.”
Budde continued by calling for compassion toward illegal immigrants, describing their contributions to society.
“The people who pick our crops, and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants, and work the night shifts in hospitals, they might not be citizens or have the proper documentation,” she said. “The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.”
“I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.”
Seated in the front row alongside First Lady Melania Trump, the president maintained his composure throughout the speech, despite the bishop’s critical tone. Some members of the congregation reportedly appeared uneasy during the remarks, though the service proceeded without interruption.
After the ceremony, Trump avoided direct criticism of Budde when asked by reporters.
He responded diplomatically, saying, “What did you think, did you like it? Did you find it exciting? Not too exciting, was it. I think it was a great service.”
The bishop’s remarks, however, provoked sharp reactions from Republicans and Trump supporters.
Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) took to social media, writing, “The person giving this sermon should be added to the deportation list.”
Others accused Budde of politicizing a sacred event meant to unify the nation.
Bishop Budde has a long history of advocating for progressive issues, as noted on her diocesan website, which highlights her work on racial equity, gun violence prevention, LGBT inclusion and immigration reform. Her criticism of Trump is also well documented.
During his first term, she condemned him for his appearance in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church holding a Bible after Lafayette Square was cleared of protesters, according to the Daily Mail. Budde called those actions “antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that we as a church stand for.”
She also participated in Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, wearing a mask during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where she publicly stated her belief that the country needed new leadership.
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