Trump publicly criticized Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the National Cathedral early Wednesday morning for her remarks during an inauguration prayer service.
The bishop, who called for compassion and mercy for transgender children and immigrant families, faced backlash from Trump, who called her comments “nasty” and accused her of using the platform to promote political views.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump labeled Bishop Budde a “Radical Left hard-line Trump hater” and accused her of bringing politics into the church.“The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard-line Trump hater. She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone and not compelling or smart,” Trump wrote.
He also criticized what he described as her failure to address crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. “She failed to mention the large number of illegal migrants that came into our Country and killed people. Many were deposited from jails and mental institutions. It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA,” Trump continued.
The former president went on to dismiss the overall prayer service as “boring and uninspiring” and demanded an apology from Bishop Budde and the church itself. “She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!” he concluded.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is known for speaking out on social justice issues, including immigration and LGBTQ+ rights. Her remarks during the service emphasized unity and empathy but clearly struck a nerve with Trump, who has often clashed with religious leaders who oppose his policies.
