President Donald Trump marked his first full day in office with a service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., where he encountered an unexpected message from Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, who called for compassion towards immigrants and an affirmation of the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Bishop Budde’s remarks came on the heels of Trump’s inauguration speech, in which he stated that America recognises only two genders. Furthermore, on that same day, Trump signed executive orders aimed at tightening immigration controls. In her address, Budde expressed concern for “gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families,” emphasising that many are fearful for their safety in light of potential policies from the new administration.
As Trump initiated a crackdown on immigration on the following Monday, including directives for military involvement in border security, a ban on asylum seekers, and restrictions affecting citizenship for U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants, Budde remained resolute. Her advocacy highlighted the essential roles immigrants play in American society, stating, “The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who work in poultry farms and meatpacking plants… may not be citizens or have the proper paperwork, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.” She urged compassion from the President to protect families from separation and to support those fleeing violence and persecution.
During and after the service, Trump’s discontent with the sermon was apparent. When approached for a reaction, he dismissed the remarks, suggesting he “did not think it was a good service.” The sentiments expressed by Bishop Budde also drew criticism from billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, currently being criticised for giving what looked very much like a Nazi salute, who remarked on social media platform X that Budde had “caught the woke mind virus very badly.” Musk’s response gains poignancy given his relationship with issues surrounding gender identity; his transgender daughter has previously distanced herself from him, expressing her desire to change her name and sever familial ties.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HP9Jc38lLE – This video discusses the interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation at Washington National Cathedral, where Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde preached and emphasized unity, dignity, and compassion, particularly towards LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwwaEuDeqM8 – This video contains the homily by The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, where she calls for unity, dignity, honesty, and humility, and specifically addresses the need for compassion towards LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants.
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-have-mercy-on-lgbtq-communities-and-immigrants-episcopal-bishop-asks-trump – This article reports on Bishop Mariann Budde’s sermon at Washington National Cathedral, where she appealed to President Donald Trump to have mercy on LGBTQ+ communities and immigrants.
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-idUSKBN1591XW – Although the exact Reuters article is not provided, this link represents the type of source that would report on Trump’s inauguration and the subsequent executive orders on immigration, as well as Bishop Budde’s remarks.
- https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-organizing-and-mobilizing-united-states-government-to-provide-a-unified-and-effective-response-to-combat-covid-19-and-to-provide-united-states-leadership-on-global-health-and-security/ – This link, while not directly related to the 2017 events, represents the type of executive orders that Trump issued, which can be compared to the actions mentioned in the article.
- https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/25/politics/donald-trump-executive-orders-immigration/index.html – This article from CNN discusses Trump’s executive orders on immigration, which aligns with the crackdown on immigration mentioned in the text.
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/bishop-mariann-edgar-budde-trump-st-johns-church/2020/06/02/7f7a3b4a-a4d4-11ea-bb20-ebf0921f3bbd_story.html – This article from the Washington Post discusses Bishop Budde’s criticism of Trump’s actions, including his appearance at St. John’s Episcopal Church, which is relevant to her ongoing advocacy.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38721056 – This BBC article reports on Trump’s inauguration and the subsequent reactions, including the executive orders and the responses from various figures like Bishop Budde.
- https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-s-transgender-daughter-vivian-jenna-musk-speaks-out-against-him-n1274446 – This article discusses Elon Musk’s relationship with his transgender daughter and her decision to distance herself from him, which is mentioned in the context of Musk’s response to Bishop Budde’s sermon.
