Who is Mariann Budde? Washington Bishop who shockingly confronted Trump at National Cathedral prayer service
An Episcopal bishop, with a long history of hating Donald Trump and supporting liberal causes, caused an uproar in Washington DC after lecturing the new president at Mass.
Mariann Budde seemed to have left the Trump family unmoved by her sermon about LGBT people and undocumented immigrants during the religious service.
The bishop — who proudly posts her pronoun choices in her Instagram bio — is also in favor of gay marriage.
In a piece for the Washington Post in 2011, after being installed as the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, she was described as “unapologetically liberal.”
Then she told the newspaper: ‘I am in favor of gay marriage, always have been. It’s a no-brainer at this point.”
During Tuesday’s sermon, she told the congregation, “There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some of whom fear for their lives.”
She addressed Trump directly – as he sat in a red tie on the couch next to his wife and new vice president.
“Millions have placed their trust in you… in the name of our God, I ask you, have mercy on the people of our country who are now afraid.
The bishop — who proudly posts her pronoun choices in her Instagram bio — is also in favor of gay marriage
Budde further referred to the migrant workforce in the US, who clean restaurant kitchens and pick crops, as he urged the new president: “They may not be citizens or have the proper paperwork, but the vast majority of immigrants are not that. criminals’.
The Episcopal leader already has a track record of criticizing Trump, calling him “contrary to the teachings of Jesus and everything we stand for as a church.”
Trump did not respond and looked on wearily after a full day and night of inauguration festivities. Other members of the congregation looked uneasy.
After 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 victory a “dramatic shift in power” that was “worrying and even frightening” to some members of her church.
She wrote in November 2024, “I am 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 to uphold the dignity of every human being – a tall order at any time, but even more so during a season of heated, divisive political rhetoric.

Budde speaks as US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania and US Vice President JD Vance attend the National Day of Prayer with Second Lady Usha at the Washington National Cathedral

After 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 posts her pronoun choices in her Instagram bio — is also in favor of gay marriage
‘Now the political realignment begins, in a dramatic shift in power. For some this is very good news; for others it is worrying and even frightening.
Budde added: “It will undoubtedly have a personal impact on many in our congregations and surrounding communities, across the country and around 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 biggest mistakes.
‘Paradoxically, this is also the moment when we have the potential to make enormous leaps in personal maturity and social courage. It is that potential that Jesus calls us to.”
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 newspaper: “There is a deep longing for the fundamental issues at stake, brought to light by the murderous death of George Floyd.
“That needs to be addressed in a systematic, fundamental way, from every police department in the country and from vigilante actions.”
In a social media post around the same time, she also said, “We are followers of Jesus. In no way do we support the president’s inflammatory response to a wounded, grieving nation.
“We stand with those seeking justice for the death of George Floyd through the sacred act of peaceful protest.”
In another interview with CBS News, she called Trump “contrary to the teachings of Jesus and everything we stand for as a church.”
She talked about Trump visiting St. John’s Church near the White House in 2020, where he held up a Bible.
Police officers cleared protesters from outside the old church so he could appear, but he didn’t even stop to pray.
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