In what can only be described as the most predictable clash of 2025, the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde—proudly “unapologetically liberal” and the first female Bishop of Washington—delivered a sermon-slash-scolding aimed squarely at Donald Trump, who responded exactly as you’d expect: with an explosion of insults on Truth Social.
Budde’s sermon, ostensibly a “prayer service,” quickly devolved into a lecture targeting Trump’s policies on LGBTQ+ rights and immigration, complete with pleas for “mercy” for marginalized groups. Naturally, this didn’t sit well with the former president, who branded her a “nasty,” “not smart,” and a “Radical Left hardline Trump hater.” Subtle, as always.
Woke Bishop Mariann Budde DECLINES Donald Trump’s Apology Demand On The View After Scolding 47th President Over LGBTQ+ Rights & Immigration: “They’re Fearing For Their Lives Now”
Budde, 65, who seems to relish the role of Trump antagonist, used her time at the National Cathedral to tell the president to be merciful—a bold ask for a man who built his political brand on doing the opposite. She lamented the plight of undocumented immigrants and LGBTQ+ children, painting a tearful picture of a nation gripped by fear. But Trump, sitting stone-faced in the pews, was unmoved.
In her sermon, Budde waxed poetic about the contributions of undocumented workers, invoking images of dishwashers and poultry farmers who keep America running. “Have mercy, Mr. President,” she pleaded, while conveniently sidestepping the very real concerns about illegal immigration and crime that Trump has been hammering home for years.
And then there was the LGBTQ+ segment, where Budde reminded Trump that queer kids exist in families of every political stripe. “Some fear for their lives,” she declared solemnly, clearly aiming to guilt-trip the president into a policy pivot. Spoiler alert: It didn’t work.
A Polite Smackdown on The View
If Budde was hoping to gain clout from her sermon, she got it—at least on The View. The hosts practically tripped over themselves to fawn over her “demure” delivery and “mindful” tone, as though those qualities were more important than the content of her remarks.
When Trump’s scathing Truth Social rant was read aloud to her during the segment, Budde appeared momentarily stunned before recovering with practiced poise. She declined to address Trump’s demand for an apology, instead preaching about the dangers of a “culture of contempt.”
Translation: she had no plans to apologize and was more than happy to bask in the moral high ground.
Trump’s Counterpunch: Classic Trump Style
Unsurprisingly, Trump wasn’t about to let Budde’s sermon go unanswered. On Truth Social, he dismissed her as a “Radical Left” figure and accused her of dragging her church into politics “in a very ungracious way.” He mocked her for being “boring” and “not very good at her job,” before slamming her for failing to acknowledge what he called a “giant crime wave” caused by illegal immigrants.
“She and her church owe the public an apology!” Trump wrote, in what might be the most ironic statement of the decade.
The Self-Styled Savior of the Marginalized
Budde, who has been leading the Episcopal Diocese of Washington since 2011, has long worn her liberalism on her sleeve. She’s overseen conventions advocating for gender-neutral pronouns for God and hasn’t hesitated to make her political stances clear, from gay marriage to Black Lives Matter. Her critics, of which there are many, accuse her of turning the church into a political soapbox, and this latest episode is unlikely to change their minds.
Even her past actions seem tailor-made for controversy. In Minneapolis, where she previously served, two quilts gifted by the White Earth Reservation were stolen from her church. Instead of filing a police report immediately, Budde opted to wait, hoping “humanity would prevail.” Spoiler: the quilts were never recovered.
