WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, President Donald Trump called for an apology from the Episcopal bishop of Washington following her requests during a prayer service that occurred in honor of his inauguration. The Right Rev. Mariann Budde specifically urged Trump to extend mercy to the LGBTQ+ community and undocumented migrant workers in the United States.
In her remarks, Budde highlighted Trump’s belief in divine protection, stating, “You have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.” After the service, Trump criticized the event, claiming it was poorly executed and suggested that they could have done significantly better. He later took to his social media platform to label Budde a “so-called Bishop” and a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater.”
Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Budde’s approach, stating, “She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart.” He pointed out that she failed to mention the negative actions attributed to some migrants. Furthermore, Trump characterized the service as tedious, asserting, “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!”
The cathedral’s spokesperson did not respond promptly to requests for comments. In addition, the Trump administration’s tenure has already seen a series of executive orders limiting transgender rights and tightening immigration regulations.
The prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral aimed to promote national unity, with attendance from Trump, Vice President JD Vance, their families, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. Budde emphasized the purpose of gathering for collective prayer, stating that it was “not for agreement, political or otherwise — but for the kind of unity that fosters community across diversity and division.” She reinforced that “Unity is not partisan.”
Although evangelical leaders attended the service, they were not featured on the program. Over a dozen clergy members from various religious traditions participated, including representatives from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu communities. However, conservative evangelicals, who are typically among Trump’s fervent supporters, were noticeably absent from the speaking roster, although many were present in the audience.
Among those supporting Trump in attendance were Robert Jeffress, a long-time ally and pastor of Dallas’ First Baptist Church; Paula White-Cain, a televangelist who advised Trump in his first term; and Lorenzo Sewell, pastor of Detroit’s 180 Church, who delivered an enthusiastic benediction during Monday’s inauguration.
This marking of the inauguration service had a unique approach, as the Washington National Cathedral has conducted ten official inaugural prayer services historically. The focus of this gathering differed from previous ones, centering on national instead of administrative unity. Very Rev. Randy Hollerith, the cathedral’s dean, remarked, “We are in a unique moment in our country’s history, and it is time to approach this differently. This will be a service for all Americans, for the well-being of our nation, for our democracy.”
The themes of compassion and unity resonated throughout the scriptures and songs shared, including a passage from Deuteronomy admonishing care for orphans, widows, and those in need. Traditionally, sermons at such services have been delivered by clergy aligned with the newly elected administration; for instance, the Rev. William Barber spoke at the service for President Joe Biden in 2021.
Bishop Budde, who addressed this year’s service, has previously criticized Trump, particularly for what she described as his “racialized rhetoric,” as well as his role in inciting violence during the January 6 Capitol riots. Her discontent was also evident in 2020 when Trump appeared at St. John’s Episcopal Church amidst cleared protesters, holding a Bible.
Budde’s address at the recent service sparked various reactions online. Austen Ivereigh, a biographer of Pope Francis, commended her directness towards Trump, noting the evident discomfort in the audience as a sign of truth. Conversely, Jeffress deemed her remarks to be disrespectful to Trump, indicating a sense of discontent among attendees at her speech.
An aspect of the service that seemed particularly tailored for Trump was the performance by tenor Christopher Macchio, who previously sang at Trump rallies and the Republican National Convention. Macchio performed songs like “Ave Maria,” a piece favored by Trump, alongside hymns like “How Great Thou Art” and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” As the service concluded, Trump joined in singing “America the Beautiful,” thanking several clergy members as they passed by him, except for Budde, whom he pointedly ignored.
