Washington Bishop Mariann Budde who boldly challenged Trump at National Cathedral prayer event

A bishop from the episcopal church, known for his long-standing disapproval of Donald Trump and his support for progressive movements, created a commotion in Washington DC by giving a sermon to the new president during mass. 

Mariann Budde seemed to have left the Trump family unmoved by her sermon about LGBT people and undocumented migrants during the religious service.  

This bishop, who boldly lists her preferred pronouns on her Instagram profile, is an advocate for same-sex marriage and has previously made contributions to Democratic initiatives, including backing Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. 

In a 2011 feature by the Washington Post, where she was ordained as the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, she was identified as being proudly left-leaning.

Speaking then, she told the outlet: ‘I’m in favor of gay marriage, always have been. At this point it’s a no-brainer.’

During the sermon on Tuesday, she told the congregation: ‘There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives.’ 

She addressed Trump directly – as he sat wearing a red tie in the pew next to his wife and new vice president. 

‘Millions have put their trust in you…in the name of our God, I ask you, have mercy on people in our country who are scared now. 

The bishop – who proudly puts her pronoun choices in her Instagram biography – is also pro-gay marriage

Budde went on to make reference to the laboring workforce of migrants across the US, who clean restaurant kitchens and pick crops, while urging the new president: ‘They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals’. 

The episcopal leader already has a record of criticizing Trump, calling him ‘antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that we as a church stand for.’ 

Trump showed no reaction and looked on wearily after a full day and night of inauguration festivities. Other members of the congregation looked uncomfortable. 

Asked about the service by reporters at the White House, Trump said: ‘What did you think, did you like it? Did you find it exciting? Not too exciting was it. I think it was a great service.’ 

Following the 2024 election, Budde made a statement to her diocese in Washington, where she spoke about the ‘divisive political rhetoric’ used during the season. 

She called Trump’s win a ‘dramatic shift of power,’ which was ‘worrisome and even frightening’ for some members of her church. 

She wrote in November 2024: ‘I’m grateful for the consistent message of those prayers: that regardless of political affiliation and strongly-held views, we are united in our commitment to follow Jesus in the way of love. 

‘Such love calls us to seek and serve Christ in all persons and uphold the dignity of every human being—a tall order at any time, but all the more so throughout a season of heated, divisive political rhetoric.

Budde speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance with second lady Usha attend the National Day of Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral 

Following the 2024 election , Budde made a statement to her diocese in Washington, where she spoke about the ‘divisive political rhetoric’ used during the season

The bishop – who proudly puts her pronoun choices in her Instagram biography – is also pro-gay marriage

‘Now the political realignment begins, in a dramatic shift of power. For some, this is very good news; for others, it is worrisome and even frightening. 

Budde added: ‘Without question, it will personally impact many in our congregations and surrounding communities, across the country and the world.

‘In times of dramatic change—no matter how we feel about it—we are vulnerable to our most unhelpful tendencies and often make our greatest mistakes. 

‘Paradoxically, it is also when we have the potential to take enormous leaps of personal maturity and societal courage. It is that potential to which Jesus calls us.’

According to her diocesan website, she boasts of serving as ‘an advocate and organizer in support of justice concerns, including racial equity, gun violence prevention, immigration reform, the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons, and the care of creation.’ 

Budde also oversaw a diocesan convention that called for the disuse of ‘gendered pronouns for God’ and consecrated a chapel at St Thomas’ Episcopal Parish in the name of a gay retired bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. 

She had also previously spoken out following the death of George Floyd, telling PBS that her children had participated in Black Lives Matter protests. 

Budde told the outlet: ‘There is a deep desire for the fundamental issues at stake brought to light by the murderous death of George Floyd. 

In 2020 she hit out at Trump who staged a visit to St John’s Church near the White House after police dispersed protestors

‘That needs to be addressed in a systemic fundamental way, from every police department in the country and the vigilante civilian actions.’

In another interview with CBS News, she called Trump ‘antiethical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that we as a church stand for’.

She had been speaking about Trump who staged a visit to St John’s Church near the White House in 2020 where he held up a Bible. 

Police officers had protestors cleared from outside the old church so he could make an appearance, but he didn’t even stop to pray. 

In an official response on X, she said: ‘The President just used a Bible and one of the churches of my diocese as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that our church stands for.

‘In no way do we support the President’s incendiary response to a wounded, grieving nation. 

‘In faithfulness to our Savior who lived a life of non-violence and sacrificial love, we align ourselves with those seeking justice for the death of George Floyd and countless others through the sacred act of peaceful protest.’

As part of the Black Lives Matter protests, she also told ABC that she had ‘given up talking to Trump’.

Budde added: ‘We need to replace President Trump, we need leadership that will lead us in ways this country deserves.’