President Donald Trump demanded an apology from the Episcopal Bishop of Washington after she urged him to show mercy to the LGBTQ+ community and to migrant workers who are illegally in the U.S. Referring to Trump's belief that he was saved by God from an assassination, Reverend Mariann Budde told him: 'You have felt the guiding hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are now afraid.'
When he returned to the White House, Trump commented: 'I don’t think it was a good service. She held up a Bible after the area had been cleared of peaceful protesters. Her sermon directed at Trump on Tuesday, January 21, provoked a lively reaction on social media. It was unpleasant in tone, and it was neither convincing nor intelligent,' Trump accused, adding that Budde did not mention that some migrants have come to the U.S. and killed people.
The National Cathedral in Washington has hosted 10 official interfaith inauguration services for presidents from both parties. The service for President Donald Trump had a different emphasis than previous ones. Its focus was on the nation rather than on the new government — a plan made before Election Day. 'This will be a service for all Americans, for the well-being of our nation, for our democracy,' pointed out the Reverend Randy Hollerith, dean of the Episcopal cathedral, in a statement in October.
In a post he made on his Truth Social network, he harshly criticized the 'supposed bishop' as a 'hardline radical left Trump hater.' 'She brought her church into the world of politics in a very disrespectful way.'
In 2021, Reverend William Barber, a progressive civil rights leader, preached before Democratic President Joe Biden at the cathedral. Budde, who delivered this year’s sermon, has joined other cathedral leaders in previously criticizing Donald Trump, rebuking his 'racialized rhetoric' and blaming him for inciting the violence of the January 6, 2021 Capitol assault, when a mob of his supporters attacked the U.S. Congress in an attempt to keep him in power. Budde was 'outraged' in 2020 after Trump staged a photo op in front of St. John's Episcopal Church, which is near the White House.
Austen Ivereigh, a biographer of Pope Francis, wrote on X that the bishop 'told the truth' when she spoke with Trump and Vance.
