The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States was a spectacle that captured the attention of millions, not just in America but around the globe. Among the various events of that day, one moment stood out and garnered significant attention: the sermon delivered at the inaugural prayer service.
“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President,” Bishop Budde said, her gaze seemingly directed at Trump. “Millions have put their trust in you. As you remarked yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. I implore you, in the name of our God, to show mercy to those in our country who are feeling scared right now.” Her words resonated especially with the LGBTQIA+ community, as she highlighted the fears faced by gay, lesbian, and transgender children from families across the political spectrum.
This sermon followed a day of significant executive orders issued by Trump—one of which addressed the biological differences between men and women, while others declared a national emergency at the southern border and aimed to reshape the nation’s immigration policies, including an attempt to eliminate birthright citizenship.
Budde has been outspoken against Trump in the past, notably when he posed outside St. John’s Episcopal Church holding a Bible in 2020, an event that sparked outrage after law enforcement forcibly cleared protesters advocating for racial justice. At that time, she expressed her frustration, saying, “Everything he has said and done is to inflame violence… We need moral leadership, and he’s done everything to divide us.”
As she concluded her sermon, Budde made a heartfelt request to the President: “Please have mercy on those in our communities whose children fear they will be separated from their parents. Help those fleeing from war zones and persecution find compassion and solace here. Our faith teaches us to be merciful to strangers, for we were all once strangers in this land.”
What are your thoughts on Bishop Mariann Budde’s impactful sermon during Trump’s inaugural prayer service?
