Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde has found herself at the center of controversy following her remarks at the National Cathedral’s prayer service during President Trump’s inauguration week.
The reverend called on Trump to show mercy to transgender children, immigrants, and marginalized groups, prompting the president to label her a “Radical Left hard-line Trump hater” and demand an apology.
On Wednesday morning, Trump took to Truth Social to blast Budde’s remarks, calling her tone “nasty” and accusing her of politicizing the service.
“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,” Trump wrote in a scathing post.
The president also criticized Budde for failing to mention crimes committed by illegal immigrants. “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,” he added. “It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA.”
Trump went further, calling on Budde and the church to apologize. “She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!”
“I am not going to apologize for asking for mercy for others,” Budde told Time magazine in an interview published Wednesday, standing firm against Trump’s criticisms.
In her interview with Time, Budde pushed back on Trump’s accusations, stating, “I don’t hate President Trump. I strive not to hate anyone, and I dare say that I am not of the ‘radical left’ either, whatever that means. That is not who I am.”
When asked about Trump’s assessment of her job performance, Budde replied, “That is for other people to judge, and so he is certainly entitled to his opinion.”
During the Tuesday service, Budde made a direct plea to Trump, asking him to show compassion toward vulnerable populations in the United States.
“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared. There are gay, lesbian, transgender children, Democratic, Republican, independent families — some who fear for their lives,” Budde said.
She also highlighted the plight of migrant workers, noting their contributions to society, from paying taxes to working difficult jobs.
“The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals,” she said, adding that many migrant workers “fear their parents are going to be taken away” and calling on Trump to help those fleeing war and persecution.
While Budde remains resolute, the backlash highlights the deep divide in the nation’s political and cultural landscape. Trump supporters argue that the bishop’s comments were inappropriate for a religious service, while others see her plea as a necessary call for empathy and understanding.
