On President Donald Trump’s first full day in office, the inaugural prayer service at Washington National Cathedral took a strikingly political turn.
Episcopal Bishop Marianne Budde of Washington used the pulpit to deliver a sermon that directly criticized Trump’s policies on immigration and transgender issues, leaving many in attendance visibly uncomfortable.
Trump, seated in the front row alongside First Lady Melania Trump, listened as Bishop Budde addressed him directly, urging him to show “mercy” to illegal immigrants and transgender children.
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The bishop, known for her progressive views, claimed that some transgender children were “fearing for their lives” due to Trump’s presidency.
“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country that are scared now,” Budde said. “There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.”
She also spoke about illegal immigrants, emphasizing their contributions to society.
“The people who pick our crops, and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat packing 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. 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.”
Vance’s facial expressions during this https://t.co/gXzLuE7Ru3
— Lisa Boothe (@LisaMarieBoothe) January 21, 2025
The politically charged sermon drew mixed reactions from the congregation.
While Trump maintained his composure, appearing calm but weary after a long day of inaugural festivities, other attendees were visibly uncomfortable.
Despite the bishop’s direct appeals, Trump later declined to comment on the sermon in detail. When asked about the service, Trump quipped to reporters at the White House, “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.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S RESPONSE TO THE NATIONAL PRAYER SERVICE SPEECH
Reporter: “Mr. President what did you think of the service”
President Trump: “Did you like it? Not too exciting was it? I think it was a good service though.”@JackPosobiec pic.twitter.com/ntxxUUuMSr
— Real America’s Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) January 21, 2025
The sermon, however, sparked backlash among Trump’s supporters and Republican lawmakers. Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) wrote on social media, “The person giving this sermon should be added to the deportation list.”
Bishop Budde, 65, has a long history of championing left-leaning causes.
According to her diocesan website, she has been an advocate for racial equity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, gun violence prevention, immigration reform, and environmental issues.
Her past criticism of Trump includes condemning his photo op at St. John’s Episcopal Church near Lafayette Square during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
At the time, she called his actions “antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that we as a church stand for.”
Budde also attended outdoor Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and openly called for Trump’s removal from office during the pandemic. “I’ve given up speaking to President Trump. We need to replace President Trump,” she said at the time.
Bishop Budde’s sermon highlighted her ongoing opposition to Trump’s policies, setting the tone for what would become a contentious relationship between her and the administration.
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