Female Bishop Calls Out Trump to His Face at Church Service

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde delivered a bold and impassioned plea at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday, directly addressing President Donald Trump and his administration’s controversial policies. Speaking from the pulpit of the Washington National Cathedral, Budde—the Episcopal Bishop of Washington—urged compassion for marginalized communities.

“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy,” Budde began, her voice steady but charged with emotion. She called attention to immigrants and LGBTQ children who, she stated, are living in fear under current policies.

“There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families. Some who fear for their lives,” Budde said, her words resonating across the historic sanctuary. “The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. May I ask you, Mr. President, to have mercy on those in our communities whose children fear their parents will be taken away.”

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde: "The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors…may I ask you to have mercy Mr. President on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away." pic.twitter.com/iXaHJrPsof

— CSPAN (@cspan) January 21, 2025

Her pointed remarks appeared to catch the First and Second Families off guard. President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, seated with their families in the front pews, exchanged uneasy glances. Their discomfort was visible to many in the congregation.

This isn’t the first time Bishop Budde has publicly challenged the president. During the George Floyd protests in 2020, she criticized Trump’s actions in a widely read op-ed for The New York Times. Reacting to his decision to clear peaceful protesters with tear gas for a photo-op at St. John’s Church, Budde wrote, “The President just used a Bible and one of the churches of my diocese as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that our church stands for.”

The National Prayer Service, a tradition since 1933, takes place the day after Inauguration Day. It brings together leaders from various faiths to promote unity and healing. But Budde’s sermon—while grounded in her faith’s call for compassion—struck a different tone, addressing policy and morality head-on.

Reactions from the congregation were mixed. Some attendees nodded in agreement, while others appeared stunned by the directness of her remarks. Outside the cathedral, congregant Deborah Hanes, a lifelong Episcopalian, shared her perspective.

“Bishop Budde spoke truth to power, and that’s what a leader of faith should do,” Hanes said. “We can’t keep silent when people are suffering.”

Critics, however, accused Budde of politicizing the sacred event. Conservative commentator Mark Riley took to social media, writing, “The National Prayer Service is supposed to unite us, not divide us further with partisan rhetoric.”

Budde’s supporters argue her message transcends politics. In an interview following the service, she explained her intentions: “This wasn’t about partisanship. It was about calling all of us—especially those in power—to reflect on our shared humanity and act with compassion.”

Whether praised or criticized, Budde’s words have reignited debates about the intersection of faith and politics. As the nation grapples with questions of identity and justice, her sermon serves as a reminder of the moral dimensions of leadership.