President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance looked visibly irritated when the sermon took a political turn during the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday.
Among the faith leaders who spoke was the Right Rev. Marian Edgar Budde, who has been a vocal critic of Trump and the U.S. government since the death of George Floyd.
A full day into Trump’s return to office, Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington’s Episcopal Diocese focused his sermon on “unity,” but his remarks became sharper when he brought up immigrants and LGBTQ youth. .
The pastor spoke directly to the president, saying, “Let me ask you one last thing, Mr. President, that millions of people have placed their trust in you, and as you told the nation yesterday, that you are in love.” I felt the full hand of God’s providence. May God have mercy on the frightened people of our nation, gay, lesbian, and transgender. There are children, some of whom are fearing for their lives.”
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President Donald Trump attends the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“And the people who harvest crops and clean office buildings and work on poultry farms and packing plants and wash dishes in restaurants and work night shifts in hospitals; Well, they have the right documents, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals, they pay taxes and are good neighbors,” Budde said. “They are faithful members of our churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples.”
The pastor asked President Trump to “have mercy on the people in our communities whose children fear their parents will be taken away, and those who are fleeing war zones of persecution in their own land.” Our God please help us to feel compassion and welcome.” That means we should be merciful to strangers. ”
The vice president and his second daughter bent over and whispered to each other during the sermon.
At the beginning of his speech, Budde said, “We seek unity as a people and nation, not in consensus, political or otherwise, but in seeking a unity that promotes community across diversity and division, a unity that serves the common good. I started praying.”
“Unity in this sense is a normative requirement for people to live freely together in a free society,” she said.
“Rather,” Budde continued, “unity is a way of coexisting with one another, one that includes and respects differences and teaches us to hold multiple perspectives and life experiences as valid and worthy of respect.” It allows us to truly care for each other in our communities, even when we disagree. ”
The Rev. Marian Budde leads the National Prayer Service attended by President Donald Trump at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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She continued, “We gather here to discuss the realities of politics at a time when power and wealth and competing interests are at stake, at a time when there are conflicting views about what America should be. Don’t be naive. When there are strong opinions in each country, different possibilities, and very different understandings of what the right course of action is, determining the direction of public policy and prioritizing resources. There will be winners and losers when the witnesses decide.”
“Not everyone’s prayers will be answered in the way we hope, but for some, the loss of hopes and dreams will be far more than political,” she said. said, adding, “All faiths expressed here affirm the birthright of all people.” As children of our only God, respecting each other’s dignity in public does not mean ridiculing, imitating, belittling, or demonizing those with whom we disagree. It means choosing instead to respectfully respect each other’s differences and pursue commonalities wherever possible. ground. “
In his inaugural address, President Trump claimed that there are two genders, men and women, which drew thunderous applause.
“I will also end government policies that seek to socialize race and gender into all aspects of public and private life.” “We will build a society of colorblindness and meritocracy.”
President Donald Trump, left, and first lady Melania Trump attend the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The president sparked further controversy by promising mass deportations of criminal illegal immigrants and signing an executive order stripping the children of illegal immigrants of their birthright citizenship.
This is not the first time Budde has made his left-wing political views public. A 2020 video clip shows Budde speaking with an ABC News reporter during a protest in Washington, D.C.
“This is a call for justice, a message for speedy justice for George Floyd,” said Budde, who was wearing a mask at the time. “For systemic justice for all the brown and black people who have been brought under the knees of this country, as we have witnessed time and time again.” She continued, “This is wrong. This is a spontaneous uprising, mostly by people less than half my age. They are the ones we should listen to.”
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Asked about Trump, Budde said, “I have given up on talking to President Trump. We need to replace President Trump.”
Budde also testified before Congress about the June 1, 2020 clash between demonstrators and law enforcement near St. John’s Church in Lafayette Square.
She said that “our government has resorted to violence against peaceful protesters,” and that the Anglican Church believes “issues of racial and social justice are core to the Christian faith.” He said that
Budde also criticized President Trump for holding up a Bible outside a church after the riot. Testifying virtually at the time, she told a House committee that “when the president held up a Bible outside our church as if to claim a mantle of spiritual authority over what had just happened, I was speechless. I thought I had to do it. I can’t find it anywhere in the Bible.” Tolerating the use of violence against innocent people. ”
Trump revisited the same church Monday morning before being sworn in as the 47th president.
Fox News’ Sarah Tobiansky contributed to this report
Daniel Wallace is a breaking news and political reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and X: @danimwallace.
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