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.
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.
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.
