Trump Wants Apology From Far-Left Bishop After Lecture During Sermon
President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for an apology from the Episcopal bishop of Washington, accusing her of using a prayer service during his inauguration to make a politically charged plea, urging him to show compassion for the LGBTQ+ community and undocumented migrant workers in the United States.
Citing Trump’s belief that divine intervention saved him from an assassination attempt, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde remarked, “You have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”
After returning to the White House, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “I didn’t think it was a good service” and “they could do much better.” Later, in an overnight post on his social media platform, Trump sharply criticized the bishop, referring to her as a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater.”
“She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart,” said Trump, emphasizing his concerns about crimes committed by migrants who entered the U.S. illegally.
Trump added, “Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!”
During the sermon, Budde called for unity, saying, “We gather to pray for unity as a people and a nation — not for agreement, political or otherwise — but for the kind of unity that fosters community across diversity and division.” However, she soon transitioned into a plea advocating for marginalized groups, including migrants and LGBTQ+ individuals.
“Unity is not partisan,” Budde stated before delivering her message about undocumented workers and “gender-confused children.”
Budde has been a frequent critic of Trump. In the past, she has condemned what she described as his “racialized rhetoric” and accused him of encouraging the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. In 2020, she expressed outrage over Trump’s photo op outside St. John’s Episcopal Church, where he held up a Bible after the area was cleared of protesters, some of whom had set a fire at the church.
Trump’s criticism of the bishop’s remarks was echoed by Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK), who left the service early. He later explained his decision in a post on X, writing, “I purposely left the prayer service early after realizing how the pulpit was being used for liberal means and not for true worship unto God and to seek His will and wisdom. Mr. President … what accosted you today was political, not Biblical.”
Concluding her sermon, Budde addressed Trump directly, saying, “Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you, and as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential 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 scared. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic and Republican and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.”
She continued by highlighting the contributions of undocumented immigrants, stating, “And the people – the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat-packing plants, who wash the dishes at their restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals — they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues… and temples.”
Budde concluded by appealing to Trump’s sense of mercy. “Have mercy on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and help those who are fleeing war zones of persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to a stranger.”