Washington Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde asked the president to have ‘mercy upon the people in the country who are scared now’
Donald Trump has slammed ‘the so-called Bishop’ who issued a ‘plea’ to him about immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community in a brutal statement on Truth Social.
On Monday (January 20), Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the US and within 24 hours signed off multiple executive orders including policies stating there are ‘only two genders’ and blocking immigrants from being able to enter – and remain as easily in – the country.
What has Trump said about the LGBTQ+ community?
One of Trump’s executive orders which he signed yesterday reads in part: “Agencies will cease pretending that men can be women and women can be men when enforcing laws that protect against sex discrimination.
“These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”
The order will also bring to an end ‘wasteful’ government programmes which promote diversity and inclusivity, as well as ‘defending women from gender ideology extremism’.
The president signed several executive orders (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
He previously promised to order all federal agencies to end programmes that ‘promote … gender transition at any age’, and pledged to cut funding from hospitals providing gender-affirming care.
What has Trump said about immigration?
Trump issued a slew of immigration-related policies during his first day back in the White House as he declared illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border a national emergency.
Trump has already gotten started on reversing several Biden-era immigration orders and has plans to send US troops to help immigration agents and restrict refugees.
The president has also got the wheels in motion to prevent children of immigrants in the US illegally from having citizenship.
Speaking at his inauguration, he said: “All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.”
Mariann Edgar Budde asks for ‘mercy’
Yesterday, Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde appealed to the new president to show ‘mercy’ on the LGBTQ+ community and immigrants. Take a look:
During a service at the Washington National Cathedral on January 21, Rev. Budde reflected on the ‘millions’ who’ve placed ‘their trust’ in Trump, appealing to him ‘in the name of our God’ that he has ‘mercy upon the people in the country who are scared now’.
“There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and Independent families, some who fear for their lives,” she calmly continued.
“And the people, the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labour in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals – they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.”
Trump hits back in lengthy statement
Shortly after the service, Trump commented he ‘didn’t think it was a good service’ and has since taken to his platform Truth Social earlier today (January 22), writing: “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.”
And he didn’t stop there, either.
Donald Trump took to Truth to condemn the ‘so-called Bishop’ (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The post continues: “She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart. 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.
“Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not very good at her job!”
Trump demanded an apology from the bishop and church (Truth/ @realDonaldTrump)
Trump’s post resolves: “She and her church owe the public an apology! t.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT national hotline at 888-843-4564, available Monday to Friday 4pm-12am ET and 12pm-5pm ET on Saturdays.
