The people who are in danger are the people who fear for their lives and their livelihoods,’ Budde said in an interview. ‘That’s where the focus should be.’

Bishop Budde locked eyes with President Trump and made a plea for mercy — and the war over spiritual authority in America was ignited anew.

President Donald Trump, from left, watches as Rev. Mariann Budde arrives at the national prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump,

In an interview with TIME, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde discussed her sermon, which has drawn death threats and prompted Trump to demand an apology

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde instantly became a topic of national conversation after issuing a heartfelt plea directly to President Donald Trump during a sermon one day after inauguration day. Here’s what to know about the Episcopalian Bishop, the prayer service, and the reaction.

Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, a bishop at Washington National Cathedral, made a plea to President Donald Trump during her sermon on Tuesday.

MINNEAPOLIS — The Right Rev. Mariann Budde has been under the national spotlight after making a direct appeal to President Donald Trump during a national prayer service on Tuesday to have mercy on the LGTBQ+ community and migrant workers who are in the United States illegally.

MAGA faithful have overwhelmed Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s church’s Facebook page by leaving over 100 negative reviews in the last 24 hours

She also addressed Trump directly while he sat with his wife and the newly appointed vice president, wearing a red tie in the pew next to them.

"The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account on Wednesday.

Bishop Budde, at the inaugural service, had directly appealed to US President Donald Trump to ‘have mercy’ on the LGBTQ community and migrant workers.