WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump lashed out at Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde after she made a heartfelt plea for mercy during a National Cathedral prayer service on the morning of his inauguration. The reverend, who addressed the congregation with a powerful message, urged Trump to show compassion for transgender children and immigrant families, some of whom live in fear of deportation.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump called Bishop Budde’s remarks “nasty” and criticized her for what he described as an inappropriate political stance. He accused the bishop of using her position to attack him, labeling her a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater.” Trump went on to say that Budde’s tone was “nasty” and that her comments were neither “compelling nor smart.”
“Her failure to mention the large number of illegal migrants coming into the country and committing violent crimes is a serious oversight,” Trump said. “These migrants, many of whom were released from jails and mental institutions, are contributing to a crime wave in the U.S. Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service itself was boring and uninspiring.”
“The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was 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,” he said.
Trump also demanded an apology from both Budde and her church, questioning her competence in her role. “She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!” he said.
Earlier in the day, Bishop Budde made her plea during her sermon as President Trump sat in the front pew, alongside First Lady Melania Trump. She spoke directly to the president, asking for mercy for marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ children and immigrant families, who she said lived in fear.
“I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared,” Budde said. “There are gay, lesbian, transgender children, Democratic, Republican, independent families — some who fear for their lives.”
Budde also addressed the treatment of migrant workers in the U.S., emphasizing that they are an integral part of the workforce, often taking on essential but low-wage jobs in industries such as agriculture, cleaning, and healthcare. “The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals,” she said. “They may not be citizens or have proper documentation, but they contribute to society and live in constant fear of separation from their families.”
She called on Trump to provide protection for those fleeing persecution, emphasizing the role that migrant workers play in supporting U.S. communities. “These people are faithful members of our churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples,” Budde said. “Their children live in constant fear that their parents will be taken away.”
Throughout the sermon, President Trump remained seated and unmoved, flanked by his wife, Melania, as well as friends and dignitaries, including Mr. and Mrs. Vance. While Budde’s impassioned words clearly resonated with many in the congregation, the president’s response to the sermon reflected his dismissive stance toward her call for compassion.
When asked about Bishop Budde’s sermon after returning to the Oval Office, President Trump told reporters, “They could have done better,” according to Sky News.
Later that evening, in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump harshly criticized the bishop, calling her a “radical left hardline Trump hater.” He described her tone as “nasty” and said her remarks were “neither compelling nor smart.”
Trump accused her of politicizing her church, stating, “She brought her church into the world of politics in a very ungracious way.”
He also dismissed the service as “boring and uninspiring,” adding, “She is not very good at her job. She and her church owe the public an apology.”
In response, Republican Congressman Mike Collins shared a video of the sermon on X, commenting, “The person giving this sermon should be added to the deportation list.”
Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, a reformed drug user & gang leader now an American non-denominational pastor who serves as the senior pastor at the Detroit-based 180 Church. He said on an interview, arguing in favor of Trump,’ I was there, I was sitting with the Trump family and most people are A-political and A-historical.”
“She (Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde) is trying to super impose her own political beliefs into the text of scripture not understanding that God has already been merciful and…..there has been not one Latino that I know that has been in my community that says, Pastor its okay to be in this country illegally. Not one!,” he emphasized!
“………As a matter of fact, we have 28 Venezuelans in our Church in Detroit, that come there, to get resources and those resources can’t go to people that are legally in this country. God has already been merciful”.
The controversial pastor, soon after preaching at President Trump’s Inauguration ceremony, promoted a crypto coin called- Lorenzo Sewell Coin saying his intention was, “for his followers to see politics become manifest not just in a way where were praying over political gatherings but when were seeing US become the hands and the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ,”
This is not an isolated occurrence, as many religious leaders, including bishops, pastors, and laypeople, have used their platforms to advocate for various political agendas. For instance, during the 2021 U.S. bishops’ conference, Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez issued a 1,200-word statement expressing his prayers for President Biden, while also outlining significant policy disagreements, particularly regarding abortion. He described Biden’s commitment to certain policies as advancing “moral evils” and reaffirmed that “abortion remains the ‘preeminent priority'” of the U.S. bishops’ conference. This stance was echoed in 2019, with the bishops emphasizing the need to address abortion, particularly as the nation neared the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Another notable example occurred on January 22, 2013, during the Fifty-Seventh Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service for President Barack Obama. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori offered a prayer for the nation, calling on God to guide the president with wisdom, strength, and compassion. He urged him to stay persistent in his vision, trust in divine strength during times of exhaustion, and always act in the service of justice and peace.
He said, “God actually has you exactly where he wants you,” Hamilton added, to applause and laughter.
“Leads us to be a compassionate people,” Hamilton implored Obama, urging him to cast a strong vision, be persistent in seeing it realized and that when he tires in his work to “wait upon the Lord, he will renew your strength.”
He also prayed, “Defend our liberties and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there might be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail. In your holy Name we pray.”
In a separate report, back in 2019, Father Robert Morey, the pastor of Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Florence, explained to the Florence Morning News that he had denied President Biden communion due to the president’s advocacy for abortion rights. According to Morey, “Any public figure who advocates for abortion places himself or herself outside of Church teaching.”
“Holy Communion signifies unity with God, one another, and the Church. Our actions should reflect that unity,” Morey stated in an email to the newspaper. He added that as a priest, he is responsible for ministering to the souls entrusted to his care, even in challenging situations. “I will keep Mr. Biden in my prayers,” he said.
When asked about the incident, Biden responded by saying, “I am not going to discuss that. That is just my personal life.”
At the time, Biden had expressed his intention to codify Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, as a way to safeguard the right to abortion amid legal challenges from Republican-led states. Additionally, Biden voiced his plans to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funds for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk. Although Biden had previously supported the Hyde Amendment, he reversed his position earlier that year following criticism from his Democratic presidential challengers in the 2020 race.
Finally, sometime after President Biden’s inauguration, we heard a homily that criticized his predecessor’s actions (Donald trump) and urged fellow Catholics to oppose the death penalty as part of the Church’s pro-life stance.
Jesuit Fr. William Kelley, associate priest at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown, condemned the Trump administration for hastily executing five individuals in the final days of his presidency. Kelley described Trump as the “most reckless execution president in more than a century” for overseeing 13 executions in just seven months, breaking with a 130-year tradition of pausing executions during presidential transitions.
In contrast, President Trump, who frequently hosted dinners, seminars, and gatherings with evangelical leaders throughout his presidency and campaign, displayed a markedly different relationship with religious figures, particularly in his later years in office. This shift in tone reflects a significant divergence from the earlier collaboration between church and state observed in previous administrations.
