Diyar Güldoğan
22 January 2025•Update: 22 January 2025
WASHINGTON
A US lawmaker criticized a bishop Wednesday who asked President Donald Trump to have mercy on immigrant families and transgender children at a prayer service.
"Monday was a celebration for most Americans. However, not everyone is happy about the direction that our country is headed, which is actually disappointing.
"For example, yesterday at the National Prayer service, the bishop was extreme in her views, extremely out of line and out of touch, and what she did was uncalled for. Perhaps we should pray for her," Lisa McClain told reporters.
She was referring to Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the bishop of Washington, during her sermon where she appealed to Trump and Vice President JD Vance to show "mercy on the people in the country who are scared now."
"There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives and the people, the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals. They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.
"They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurdwara and temples. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here," she said.
Trump demanded an apology Wednesday and criticized the remarks.
"The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater. She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. "She failed to mention the large number of illegal migrants that came into our Country and killed people. Many were deposited from jails and mental institutions. It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA. 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!"
