Leave it to the woke left to turn a solemn, unifying event into a political soapbox. During today’s National Prayer Service, Episcopal Washington Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde used her platform to launch a shameless attack on President Trump, veering wildly off course from the event’s intended purpose of unity and prayer.
The National Prayer Service, held at the Washington National Cathedral, has been a long-standing tradition after every presidential inauguration since 1933. It’s meant to bring people of all faiths together to pray for the nation and its leadership—not to score cheap political points. But, unsurprisingly, Budde couldn’t resist the urge to take jabs at Trump under the guise of a “plea for compassion.”
“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President,” Budde began, before launching into a predictable laundry list of leftist talking points. She implored Trump to “have mercy” on LGBTQ individuals, illegal immigrants, and other groups the left insists are living in constant fear of his policies. Never mind the fact that Trump has repeatedly stated his commitment to protecting all Americans, regardless of background or identity. But facts don’t matter to Budde—only virtue-signaling.
She even went so far as to argue that illegal immigrants who “pick our crops and clean our office buildings” deserve Trump’s mercy, conveniently ignoring the rule of law and national sovereignty. Apparently, in Budde’s worldview, feelings trump facts, and breaking the law should come without consequences.
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
It’s no surprise that Budde has a long history of anti-Trump rhetoric. In 2020, during the lawless George Floyd riots, she infamously criticized Trump for standing in front of St. John’s Church with a Bible, calling it a political stunt. Of course, she had nothing to say about the mobs torching the city and defacing churches—because that didn’t fit her narrative.
Trump, for his part, handled the bishop’s antics with his signature wit and restraint. When asked for his reaction, he simply quipped, “Did you find it exciting? Was not too exciting, was it?” before adding that “they could do so much better.” Honestly, he’s right.
Trump responds to the sermon at the National Prayer Service, that asked him to take “mercy” on those “scared” of his presidency.
“Not too exciting, was it.”
“They could do much better,” Trump says. https://t.co/Zgvb1l5ICq pic.twitter.com/50QanxBNFc
— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) January 21, 2025
Instead of using the moment to pray for America’s success and healing, Budde opted for the usual left-wing fear-mongering and divisiveness. Frankly, Trump would have been well within his rights to walk out the moment Budde hijacked the pulpit for her political agenda.
America deserves better than this kind of nonsense masquerading as faith.