Trump excoriates bishop as 'Radical Left hard line Trump hater' after politically charged prayer service

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Reverend who urged President Trump to 'have mercy' reacts to his criticism: 'It was a respectful response'

Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde responded to President Donald Trump's criticism of comments she made during her sermon at the Washington National Cathedral.

President Donald Trump blasted Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, after she directed politically charged remarks towards him during an interfaith service of prayer for the country at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, the day after Trump's inauguration.

"Let me make one final plea, Mr. President," she said. "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 went on to say that "the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors."

"I ask you to have mercy Mr. President on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here," she said.

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Trump trashed Budde and her performance in a post on Truth Social, suggesting that she and her church should apologize to the public.

The president also pointed out that there are illegal immigrants who have entered the country and killed Americans. 

"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. 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," Trump declared in the post on Wednesday.

"Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!" he asserted.

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Left: President Donald Trump speaks while signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025; Right: Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde delivers a sermon during the National Prayer Service at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Left: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Right: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., indicated in a post on X that he is Episcopalian, and objected to Budde's remarks.

"As a conservative Episcopalian who supports President Trump and his agenda, I am profoundly disappointed that Bishop Mariann Budde politicized today’s inaugural Service of Prayer for the Nation. By disregarding President Trump’s appointment of Scott Bessent, a brilliant, openly gay man to serve as Treasury Secretary and Elon Musk, a genius, first generation legal immigrant to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, Bishop Budde’s gratuitous criticisms ring hollow," Barr declared.

"Sadly, the only message Bishop Budde delivered through her unwelcoming and hypocritical words to the President was that the Episcopal Church’s motto of ‘All are Welcome’ apparently doesn’t apply to the majority of Americans who voted for Donald Trump."

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Budde has been open about her opposition to Trump in the past.

"We need to replace President Trump," she said in a video clip that ABC News posted on social media in 2020.