President Donald Trump is demanding an apology from the Episcopal bishop of Washington, Mariann Budde, after she urged him to show mercy to the LGBTQ+ community and migrant workers during a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral. The service, which marked Trump’s inauguration, focused on national unity, with over a dozen religious leaders from various traditions participating [1).
In her sermon, Budde referenced Trump’s belief that he was saved by God from assassination, saying, “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.” Trump responded by criticizing the service and calling Budde a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater” who “brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way.”
The Trump administration has already rolled back transgender rights and toughened immigration policies. Budde’s sermon was seen as a call to action, urging Trump to consider the impact of his policies on vulnerable communities. The bishop has previously criticized Trump’s “racialized rhetoric” and blamed him for inciting violence on January 6, 2021 [1).
The service featured music from opera singer Christopher Macchio, who performed “Ave Maria,” a favorite song of Trump’s. Despite the controversy surrounding Budde’s sermon, the service aimed to promote unity and compassion, with a focus on the nation rather than the new administration ¹.
