Bishop Pleads with Trump to Show Mercy to LGBT People and Migrants
Episcopal leader’s direct appeal during inaugural prayer service ignites praise, backlash, and a fiery response from Trump.
- Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde urged President Trump to show mercy to LGBTQ+ youth and immigrant families
- Trump labeled the service “boring” and criticized Budde for politicizing the church
- Supporters praised Budde’s courage, while critics accused her of creating division during a ceremonial event
During President Donald Trump’s inaugural prayer service, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington delivered an impassioned plea, urging the newly elected leader to extend compassion to LGBTQ+ youth and immigrants.
“Have mercy on the people who are scared now,” Budde implored, highlighting the fear among gay, lesbian, and transgender children as well as families fearing deportation under Trump’s policies. She also called for empathy towards refugees fleeing war and persecution.
Trump dismissed the service, calling it “boring” and accusing the bishop of bringing politics into the church. On Truth Social, he criticized Budde, labeling her a “Radical Left hardliner” and demanding an apology.
The bishop’s sermon drew widespread reactions. Supporters praised her courage for confronting Trump directly, with one commenter noting, “A bishop just called out Trump to his face at church.” Critics, however, accused her of overstepping, with some calling her actions divisive.
Budde later explained her decision: “The fear among our people—both immigrants and the LGBTQ community—is palpable. I couldn’t stay silent.”
As the first female leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington since 2011, Budde’s address marked a historic and polarizing moment in the often-ceremonial tradition of inaugural prayer services.
