President Donald Trump attended an interfaith inaugural prayer service on Tuesday, where Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal bishop of Washington, urged him to “have mercy” on vulnerable communities, including LGBTQ individuals and immigrants.
The prayer service, held at the Washington National Cathedral, has been a bipartisan tradition following presidential inaugurations. Trump sat in the front row alongside first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and second lady Usha Vance.
“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” Budde said, addressing Trump directly. She highlighted the fears of LGBTQ youth, noting, “There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families. Some who fear for their lives.”
She also called for compassion toward immigrants, adding: “They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes, are good neighbors, and are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues.”
Trump, who leaned over to comment to Vice President Vance during the sermon, later told reporters he “didn’t think it was a good service” and said, “they could do much better.”
Executive Orders Targeting LGBTQ and Immigrant Policies
The sermon came a day after Trump signed a series of executive actions immediately following his swearing-in, many of which targeted LGBTQ rights and immigration.
For LGBTQ issues, Trump signed an order declaring that the U.S. government would officially recognize only two sexes, male and female. Another order ended diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within federal agencies, labeling them “radical and wasteful.” The administration also removed LGBTQ resources from government websites, including a page dedicated to advancing LGBTQ rights globally.
On immigration, Trump enacted orders to end birthright citizenship, halt refugee admissions, and deploy the military to the southern border. Critics argue some of these actions violate constitutional protections, including the 14th Amendment. A coalition of Democratic attorneys general filed lawsuits to block the birthright citizenship order on Tuesday.
Additionally, the Trump administration discontinued the use of CBP One, an app migrants used to schedule appointments at border entry points, though the permanence of this change remains unclear.
Bishop Budde’s History of Criticizing Trump
This is not the first time Budde has spoken critically of Trump. In June 2020, she publicly condemned him for clearing Lafayette Square during the George Floyd protests to stage a photo op at St. John’s Church while holding a Bible.
“The God I serve is on the side of justice,” she wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times at the time. “What would the sacrificial love of Jesus look like now?”
As Trump’s presidency begins with controversial policies and strong responses from faith leaders, the tension between his administration and advocates for marginalized communities continues to grow.
