Bishop who angered Trump with call for mercy says she will not apologize
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Mariann Edgar Budde defends sermon asking president to show compassion to immigrants and LGBTQ+ people. The bishop at the National Cathedral prayer service in Washington on Tuesday who urged Donald Trump to “have mercy upon” immigrants and LGBTQ+ people, has defended her remarks and said that she will not apologize.
The Right Rev Mariann Edgar Budde’s sermon on Tuesday garnered national attention when she made a direct plea to Trump to show mercy and compassion toward scared individuals, including “gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families”, as well as immigrants, and those fleeing war and persecution.
Following the sermon, the president attacked Budde online, labelling her a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater” in a lengthy social media post early on Wednesday. He argued that she had “brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way” and described her tone as “nasty”.
Trump characterized the service as “boring” and “uninspiring”, and asserted that Budde and her church “owe the public an apology”. His allies quickly joined the criticism, with one Republican representative suggesting that Budde “should be added to the deportation list”.
In the past few days, Budde has given interviews about her sermon and the backlash it sparked. She told reporters she would not apologize for her remarks, despite the criticism from the president and his allies. “I don’t hate the president, and I pray for him,” Budde told NPR. “I don’t feel there’s a need to apologize for a request for mercy.
