Bishop Mariann Budde Urges Mercy from Trump, Slams Immigration and LGBTQ+ Policies in Powerful Prayer Service

On January 21, during a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral on his first full day in office, President Donald Trump heard a powerful plea from Washington’s Episcopal bishop, Mariann Budde. In her 15-minute sermon, Budde called on Trump to “have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared,” specifically referencing “gay, lesbian, and transgender children” as well as immigrants.

Trump had already signed several executive orders, including those asserting that only two genders exist and a commitment to crack down on immigration.

In her address, Bishop Budde urged compassion for vulnerable groups. "Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have placed their trust in you… In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives," she said. She also spoke out in defense of immigrants, highlighting their vital roles in society.

Bishop Mariann Budde Urges Mercy from Trump, Slams Immigration and LGBTQ+ Policies in Powerful Prayer Service

“The people who pick our crops, clean our office buildings, labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, wash dishes in restaurants, and work night shifts in hospitals—these people may not have citizenship or proper documentation, but the vast majority are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors,” she remarked.

Budde reminded Trump of the nation’s history of immigration, saying, “We were all once strangers on this land.” She urged, “I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away. And that you help those fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands.” She stressed the Christian call for mercy, reminding him, “We were all once strangers in this land.”

The 65-year-old Budde has led the Episcopal Diocese of Washington since 2011, overseeing 86 congregations and 10 Episcopal schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties. She is the first woman to hold this role. Budde holds degrees in history, Divinity, and Ministry and is an advocate for various justice causes, including racial equity, gun violence prevention, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and environmental care.

This isn't the first time Budde has criticized Trump. In 2020, after he posed with a Bible outside St. John’s Church during the George Floyd protests, she denounced his actions, writing in The New York Times that he used sacred symbols to “cloak himself in the mantle of spiritual authority, while espousing positions antithetical to the Bible he held in his hands.”

In response to her comments, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to criticize Budde, calling her “a Radical Left hard line Trump hater” and accusing her of politicizing her church. “She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart,” he added.