Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, who called on Donald Trump to “have mercy” on LGBTQ children and immigrants during a prayer service he attended, has responded to the president’s demand for an apology, saying she stands by her words.
Budde, the first woman to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, used the Tuesday inauguration prayer service to address Trump directly.
Sitting in the front pew alongside First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance, Trump listened as Budde appealed on behalf of those she described as “scared” in the current political climate.
“There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some of whom fear for their lives,” Budde said. She also defended immigrants, including those without documentation, stating that most are good neighbors and “not criminals.”
“We were all once strangers in this land,” she reminded the congregation.
Following the service, Trump dismissed it as “not too exciting” and suggested it could have been “much better.”
On Truth Social, he criticized Budde as “bad at her job” and called the service “uninspiring,” “nasty in tone,” and “not compelling or smart.” He concluded by stating that Budde and her church “owe the public an apology.”
In an interview with Time magazine, Budde responded, “I am not going to apologize for asking for mercy for others.”
Speaking on The View, Budde explained that she felt a responsibility to use her platform to “pray with the nation for unity.”
“With so many people in our country feeling scared, I wanted to use the moment to remind us to treat everyone with dignity and mercy,” she said. “I was trying to counter the divisive and polarizing narrative that is harming real people.”
Budde declined to comment on Trump’s body language during her sermon, stating, “I’ve long since given up trying to interpret people’s body language while preaching. I said what was in my heart and left it for others to take from it what they would.”
She added that while she has never had a one-on-one conversation with Trump, she would welcome the opportunity.
