In a notable moment during an inaugural prayer service at Washington's National Cathedral, Bishop Mariann Budde made a heartfelt plea to President Donald Trump to have mercy on vulnerable communities during his presidency. This service was attended by both Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, and Budde's sermon took a sharp turn towards addressing the implications of Trump's policies on HuffPost amid a series of controversial executive orders.

Delivering her message directly to Trump, Budde said, “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” particularly referring to families of gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals who fear for their safety. She emphasized that these fears are felt by individuals across political lines, underlining the challenges faced by many Americans in the current political climate. “There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives,” she pointed out, as reported by USA Today.

In addition to her candid address concerning LGBTQ+ rights, Budde extended her compassion to immigrants, stressing their roles as crucial members of society. “The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors,” she said, insisting on the importance of mercy towards those who contribute positively to American society regardless of their documentation status. “Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land,” she added, reinforcing the need for empathy and support for marginalized populations, according to The Guardian.

However, following the sermon, Trump described the service as “not too exciting,” indicating his discontent with the event and suggesting that it could be improved. “I didn’t think it was a good service,” he remarked as he left the National Cathedral for the White House, as noted by NPR.

Budde's remarks came at a time when Trump had just signed a series of executive orders that rolled back protections for transgender individuals and called for aggressive actions on immigration, including defining sex strictly as male and female, which significantly limits the recognition of non-binary identities. These actions have been met with significant pushback from various religious and civic leaders concerned about their implications for community safety and human rights.

The service, a time-honored tradition for incoming presidents, saw Budde using the platform to deliver a poignant message that seemed to challenge the administration's approach to governance. In a climate of division and fear, her call for mercy resonated widely, drawing mixed reactions from the audience and nearby political commentators, including criticisms from some Republicans who felt her comments were inappropriate. As seen with Representative Mike Collins, critics have taken note of her intervention, even suggesting, “The person giving this sermon should be added to the deportation list,” highlighting the polarized nature of modern American discourse on immigration and LGBTQ+ issues.

Despite the backlash, Bishop Budde later clarified her intentions, stating she was not calling Trump out but rather making a plea based on the fear she observed within these communities, a sentiment echoed in articles from Forbes.