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Woke Bishop makes ‘plea’ to Trump to ‘have mercy’ on LGBTQ, illegal immigrants ‘who are scared now’

At the National Prayer Service held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., in honor of President Donald Trump, Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde delivered a sermon that called for compassion and unity amidst the divisive political landscape.

Her remarks, while framed as a spiritual plea, resonated as a critique of the new administration’s early policies, sparking mixed reactions from attendees and observers.

Bishop Budde’s sermon emphasized themes of mercy, unity, and inclusivity, addressing what she described as fears among vulnerable communities. Directing her words at President Trump, Budde called for understanding and compassion toward groups she said feel marginalized under his leadership, including the LGBTQ+ community, undocumented immigrants, and refugees.

“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President,” Budde said. “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 upon the people in our country who are scared now.”

Her sermon touched on the anxieties of LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrant families who fear the consequences of Trump’s policy reversals. In one of his first actions, Trump eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the federal level and reversed Biden-era executive orders on gender identity, restoring policies centered on biological definitions and women’s rights in education.

Budde spoke passionately about undocumented immigrants who contribute to society despite their lack of legal status.

“There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives,” she said. “And the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in 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.”

Budde continued, “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 who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here.”

Her message invoked biblical teachings, reminding listeners that God calls for mercy toward strangers, as “we were all once strangers in this land.”

Budde’s plea was consistent with her longstanding advocacy for social justice causes. The Episcopal Diocese of Washington’s website describes her as an advocate for “racial equity, gun violence prevention, immigration reform, the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons, and the care of creation.”

Her opposition to Trump is not new. In June 2020, amid nationwide protests following George Floyd’s death, Budde publicly criticized the then-president, stating, “We need to replace President Trump.” Her criticism came after Trump’s controversial visit to St. John’s Episcopal Church near the White House, where he posed with a Bible amidst a backdrop of cleared protesters.

The sermon received polarized responses. Human Events senior editor questioned the church’s tax-exempt status, tweeting, “Why should the National Cathedral be allowed to maintain its tax-exempt status if their Bishopess is attacking the President at the National Prayer Service?”

Trump, known for his direct engagement with public criticism, offered a brief and dismissive reaction. When asked for his thoughts on the sermon, he replied, “What did you think?” before adding that it was “not too exciting.”