Bishop asks Trump to ‘have mercy’ on migrants and LGBTQ+ people | First Thing
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Right Rev Mariann Budde’s appeal followed executive orders preparing US for mass deportations and targeting of transgender people. Good morning. The Episcopal bishop of Washington implored Donald Trump to “have mercy upon” immigrants and LGBTQ+ people across the country after he unleashed a slate of executive orders targeting communities.
![[At the inauguration of Donald Trump: (from left) Priscilla Chan, Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sánchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4dc65c81185f1f3416a1a54bfb7144ca6a6f2ddf/0_0_5499_3299/master/5499.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Using her inaugural prayer service sermon at the Washington National Cathedral to appeal to Trump directly, the Right Rev Mariann Budde said: “There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives.”.
![[Firefighters battle the Lilac fire near the Bonsall community of San Diego county, California]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3af716147b3d0616fe99e9167beaac3e826b14ba/0_403_6048_3629/master/6048.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Facing an unemotional Trump, who sat with Melania Trump and JD Vance, Budde continued: “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now.” She added that “the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals” but instead “pay taxes and are good neighbors”.
![[Donald Trump’s controversial pick for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ff6d0249f09e250b6ffeddb012bce54cbfae7c70/0_0_1952_1172/master/1952.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
What executive orders does it follow? Trump has already signed directives undoing Biden-era protections for transgender Americans and paving the way for mass deportations. The sway of the world’s super-rich over Trump’s presidency threatens global stability and democracy, a poll of more than 2,000 millionaires has concluded.
![[A world-record attempt in 2019 in the Netherlands to gather the largest group of tall people together]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/aeb349d99f600ea6486ece7094c5fe0f87c94534/0_447_6708_4025/master/6708.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The survey, published during the annual Davos summit by the Patriotic Millionaires, a group campaigning for a wealth tax, found that about 70% agree that the influence of the super-wealthy is driving a fall in trust of the media, the judiciary and democracy. Half say the concentration of extreme wealth puts democracy in danger.
![[A couple enjoying a tipple, circa 1936]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/99c43234b31c397109de2276c4b208e5e1dd1d88/0_517_4800_2881/master/4800.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
