It happened again. Anyone who remembers the summer of 2020 probably has that image burned into their brain: Donald Trump standing in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, holding a Bible like a prop after peaceful protesters were tear-gassed out of the way. Back then, it was Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde who led the charge, publicly fuming that the President had used her church for a "sacred symbols" photo op.
Fast forward to January 2025. Trump is back in the White House, and the Bishop who confronted Trump is once again at the center of a national firestorm. But this time, she didn't just write a scathing op-ed from afar. She said it to his face.
The Bishop Who Confronted Trump: What Really Happened at the Cathedral
During the traditional post-inauguration prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral on January 21, 2025, Bishop Budde took the pulpit. Trump and Vice President JD Vance were sitting right there in the front row. You could almost feel the air leave the room.
Budde didn't scream. She didn't protest. Instead, she delivered a message that was—honestly—way more uncomfortable because of how quiet and direct it was. She looked at the newly sworn-in President and asked for one thing: mercy.
Specifically, she asked for mercy for the people she says are "scared now." We’re talking about the LGBTQ+ community, transgender kids, and the millions of undocumented workers who pick crops, clean offices, and wonder if a knock on the door is coming.
"In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now," Budde said.
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She wasn't just rambling. She was referencing the executive orders Trump had signed literally hours before, which aimed to roll back transgender rights and tighten immigration enforcement. It was a classic "truth to power" moment that had everyone from social media trolls to career politicians losing their minds.
Why the Message of Mercy Matters More Than the Confrontation
Most people focus on the drama. They love the "Bishop vs. Trump" narrative because it makes for great headlines. But if you actually listen to what she said, it wasn't a political stump speech. It was a theological plea.
Budde spent about 15 minutes talking about unity. Not the "let's all agree" kind of unity, but the kind that "fosters community across diversity and division." She basically told the room—and the world—that you don't have to agree with someone to treat them with dignity.
The Breakdown of Budde’s Three (plus one) Pillars
When she sat down for an interview later with The View and the Washingtonian, she explained that she had planned to talk about three values:
- Honoring inherent dignity: Seeing every person as a child of God, no matter their paperwork or identity.
- Honesty: Dealing in facts rather than "racialized rhetoric."
- Humility: Realizing that none of us have all the answers.
But then, after watching the inauguration and the immediate policy shifts, she realized something was missing. She added a fourth: Mercy. She argued that when you have all the power—the White House, the House, the Senate—mercy is the only thing that keeps a country from turning into a "culture of contempt." It's a heavy concept.
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The Fallout: Truth Social and "So-Called Bishops"
Predictably, the reaction was a mess. Trump didn't wait long to fire back. He took to Truth Social the next day, calling Budde a "Radical Left hard line Trump hater" and a "so-called Bishop." He claimed she was "nasty in tone" and "not very good at her job."
He even demanded an apology.
It wasn't just the President, though. Congressman Josh Brecheen from Oklahoma introduced a resolution in the House claiming Budde used her position inappropriately. Others on the far right suggested the IRS should look into the Cathedral’s tax-exempt status.
On the flip side, people like Austen Ivereigh, who writes about Pope Francis, praised her for "naming the truth." For a lot of people, she’s become a symbol of a "brave" church that won't stay quiet. For others, she’s everything that’s wrong with "woke" religion.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Bishop
Here is the thing: Budde doesn't actually identify as "radical left." She’s the leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, a mainline denomination that has been debating these things for decades.
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In a follow-up interview with Time, she was asked if she hates Trump. Her answer? "I don’t hate President Trump. I strive not to hate anyone."
She also clarified a technique she was using. She told The New Yorker that she was counting on people "overhearing" her talk to Trump. It’s a family-systems trick. If you want a group to hear a message, sometimes you talk to the person at the head of the table so everyone else at the table actually listens.
Whether it worked is up for debate. Trump's supporters see it as a "disgusting" ambush. Her supporters see it as a "sacrificial love" in action.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the Tension
The drama between the Bishop and the President is a microcosm of where America is right now. If you're trying to make sense of it all, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch the whole sermon: Don't just read the Truth Social posts or the Twitter clips. The context of "unity" matters.
- Separate theology from politics: Mainline denominations like the Episcopalians often view "social justice" as a core part of their faith, not a side-hustle for the DNC. Understanding that distinction helps you see why she felt she had to speak.
- Look for the "Mercy" factor: In your own disagreements, ask if mercy is present. Budde’s argument is that without it, we just have "winners and losers" and no community.
- Dignity isn't agreement: You can disagree with the Bishop’s stance on immigration while still acknowledging her right to speak from her pulpit. Likewise, you can disagree with Trump’s response without dismissing the concerns of his voters.
The reality is that Bishop Mariann Budde isn't going anywhere, and neither is Trump. This "confrontation" is just the opening salvo in what looks to be a very long four years of tension between the National Cathedral and the White House.