President Donald Trump has once again sparked controversy with a scathing midnight post on his social media platform, Truth Social. This time, his criticism was directed at Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, who pleaded for compassion for LGBTQ+ individuals and undocumented immigrants during the inaugural prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral.
Trump, starting his second tenure as president with a series of bold decisions, described the bishop as a “Radical Left hard-line Trump hater” and labeled her tone during the prayer service as “nasty.” In his post, the president wrote, “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 further criticized her remarks, saying, “She failed to mention the large number of illegal migrants that came into our country and killed people. Many were deposited from jails and mental institutions. It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA. Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was very boring and uninspiring. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!”
During the prayer service, Bishop Budde addressed the president directly, urging him to show mercy on vulnerable communities, particularly gay, lesbian, and transgender children, in light of Trump’s recent decisions to recognize only two genders and end birthright citizenship.
“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.
The bishop also defended undocumented immigrants, highlighting their contributions to the economy and society. “The people who pick our farms, and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat-packing 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,” Budde emphasized.
She added, “Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger. For we were all once strangers in this land.”
Trump, seated in the front row with First Lady Melina Trump and Vice President JD Vance, dismissed the service in his Truth Social post, saying, “Not too exciting, was it. I didn’t think it was a good service. No…They can do much better.”
The president’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups and religious leaders, who accused him of undermining the values of compassion and inclusion that the prayer service sought to uphold. Meanwhile, Bishop Budde has yet to respond to Trump’s comments.
