Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Bishop Who Urged Trump To 'Have Mercy' Responds After Trump Demands 'Apology'

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

After Donald Trump lashed out at her demanding an "apology" for her inauguration prayer service sermon, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde told NPR why she has no intention of apologizing.

Make us preferred on Google

The Bishop who presided over the prayer service at Washington’s National Cathedral urging Republican President Donald Trump to "have mercy" on the American people who are "scared now," is refusing to apologize for her words.

At the end of her sermon on Tuesday, Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde directly addressed Trump, who sat in the front row, with her plea on behalf of the American people.


RELATED: Trump Melts Down Over Bishop's 'Nasty' Sermon At National Prayer Service In Late Night Rant

Given the change of scenery from his usual appearances at debates or rallies, he was forced to sit and listen to Budde during the interfaith service in which she eloquently expressed:

"In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now."
"There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives."

Budde also mentioned the immigrants whose families are at risk of being torn apart under stricter anti-immigration policies under Trump's second term.

"I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away," said Budde.

Afterward, Trump blasted Budde and took to his Truth Social platform and called her "A Radical Left hardline Trump hater" and said she was "nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart."

You can see his post below.

The convicted felon now sitting behind the Resolute desk continued ranting:

"Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one."
"She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!"

Budde has now responded expressing no regrets for imparting her plea at the service that ruffled the feathers of many conservatives.


BUDDE: “I am not going to apologize for asking for mercy for others.” @time.com time.com/7209222/bish...

[image or embed]
— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) January 22, 2025 at 4:32 PM


In an NPR interview, Budde, a 65-year-old grandmother, responded to Trump's remarks.

"Well, I'm not a Trump hater. First of all, I don't hate the president, and I pray for him. And I don't agree with some of his views of the country and the way - the decisions he makes, but I certainly don't hate him."

As for Trump's demand for an apology, well...

"I don't feel there is a need to apologize for a request for mercy."
"And I don't feel that there is a need to apologize to speak to the unity of this country that includes people that were not at all referenced in the unity that he spoke of the day before in his inaugural address."
"So, no, I don't feel the need to apologize."

When a BlueSky social media post asked users if Budde should apologize, the general consensus was absolutely not and that it should be the other way around.


Do you think Bishop Mariann E. Budde, should apologize?

[image or embed]
— Isabel Santos (@isabelsantos.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 5:28 AM




That’s a ridiculous question. For what? Exemplifying actual Christian values?
— Cindy Kitchel (@urbanbunket.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 5:28 AM



Of course not. Trump should apologize to her but of course he won't.
— Kathryn Montgomery-Meissner (@kmeissner1952.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 11:34 AM


Apologize for what? That the cross she held up to him burned his eyes? Please. Religion aside, she advocated for mercy, for compassion, for the values espoused by her creed. She did her job well. It’s stunning, really, that people who announce themselves as Christian at every opportunity…😳
— Bridget ⭐️🦝🦇🪲🕷️🦈🐅🌙🌪️ (@bridgetmc.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 6:19 AM




The question itself is an abomination! I stand with the Bishop!
— sweetpea02.bsky.social (@sweetpea02.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 5:40 AM



I hope Bishop Budde will be asked to officiate at his funeral.
— DoonHameBuddie (@distantbuddie.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 5:30 AM




She deserves an ovation and praise from all true believers in a loving and all powerful God. Felon47 and his faux christian minions owe her a apology. Always speak truth to power regardless of the consequences.
— Scarlett Fox Fella (@scarlett4fox.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 5:44 AM




Trump should apologize. On a daily base. For every lie, hate and fake news coming out his rotten mouth. And for being Trump, of course. Amen.
— Frank Soprano (@franksoprano.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 5:49 AM




No way! She is on the side of right and righteousness. If he doesn't care about the righteousness idea he should drop his fake religious actions and tell the truth. He really just wants to piss everyone off and is using the Christian right as his lackeys to be re-elected.
— julibcr.bsky.social (@julibcr.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 12:20 PM




NO! For what ? Standing up to those who are less fortunate and or voiceless? This is her job and she’s doing it brilliantly.
— AMG (@leorap.bsky.social) January 23, 2025 at 12:09 PM


White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also called on Budde to apologize for her sermon.

She told Fox News:

“Everybody there was shocked and mortified by the disturbing comments from this bishop who chose to weaponize the pulpit."
"She should apologize to President Trump for the lies that she told.”

When Budde was asked about having any regrets about her sermon, she told NPR:

"What do I regret? I regret that it was something that has caused the kind of response that it has, in the sense that it actually confirmed the very thing that I was speaking of earlier, which is our tendency to jump to outrage and not speak to one another with respect."

"But, no, I won't apologize..." she stressed.

More from People/donald-trump

Screenshots from X user @Sofia50020Sofia's video
@Sofia50020Sofia/X

Video Of Guy Turning Off Mall Escalator And Blocking People From Getting Off Has Viewers Sounding Off

We can all agree that some social media trends are fun and harmless, but most of them are pretty ridiculous and either inconvenient or hurt people.

There have been a few escalator trends over the years, mostly one person confusing someone else by touching their arm, passing them a note, or even flirting with them.

Keep ReadingShow less
Models @haroonellahkarim and @0ilprincess, featuring the "Martin Pride Capsule" fashion line
@church.ofmartin/Instagram

Mormon Church Accidentally Spotlights Gay Mormon Fashion Designer—And People Can't Get Enough

A Mormon church tried to stay hip and garner new followers by promoting a fashion line, only to prove to all of us that we're really not as different as the prejudiced people among us would like us to believe.

Let's unpack this: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an Instagram account over at @churchofjesuschrist. They regularly promote members of their community, demonstrating what they do, how they give back to their community, and how their religious testimony ties into their mission.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of David Brouillette from news video
News Center Maine / YouTube

ICE Agent Who Killed Man In Maine Caught In Chilling Audio Threatening To Slit His Ex-Wife's Throat

David Brouillette, the ICE agent who fatally shot Joan Durán Guerrero four times during an attempted traffic stop in Biddeford, Maine, earlier this month, has sparked outrage after unearthed audio revealed he once left a voicemail for his ex-wife threatening to slit her and her female family members' throats.

In an interview with NPR, Ashley Brouillette shared a profanity-laced voicemail her ex-husband left on Nov. 28, 2025, shortly after she filed for a restraining order against him. The recording, obtained by NPR, captures him speaking with slurred speech before ending with a threat that she and the women in her family should have their throats cut.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Ken Paxton at press conference
@DemocraticWins/X

Texas AG Ken Paxton Flees Press Conference After Reporters Bring Up His Mounting Scandals—And Yikes

Texas Attorney General and Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton was called out after fleeing a press conference to avoid answering questions from reporters about two different scandals that have threatened his race against Democrat James Talarico.

A New York Times report published last week revealed that Paxton—who has served as Texas attorney general since 2015—has amassed 15 properties valued at roughly $9 million across states including Utah, Hawaii, Florida and Oklahoma, despite earning a government salary while simultaneously campaigning for the Senate and navigating a divorce.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Lauren Boebert
MeidasTouch Network

Lauren Boebert Dragged After Making Bonkers Claim About Moon Landing Before Correcting Herself

Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert was widely mocked after she told a MeidasTouch reporter that she believes the moon landing was done in an "Amazon warehouse" before quickly correcting her own mistake.

July 20 marked 57 years since the Apollo 11 mission astronauts landed on the Earth's moon. Conspiracy theorists have long alleged the moon landing was fabricated by NASA in what they claim was an elaborate hoax.

Keep ReadingShow less