Footage of the Bishop of Washington pleading with new US president Donald Trump to 'have mercy' on the LGBTQ+ community has gone viral, with viewers point out one unnerving detail about the interaction.
Speaking in a service yesterday (21 Jan) - just a day after Trump's inauguration - Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde addressed comments previously made by the Republican leader about there being 'only two genders'.
Trump's viewers on gender
During his inauguration speech earlier this week, 78-year-old Trump outlined a policy whereby agencies 'will cease pretending that men can be women and women can be men when enforcing laws that protect against sex discrimination'.
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The order adds: "These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality," and promises to bring to an end 'wasteful' government programmes which promote diversity and inclusivity, and 'defend from gender ideology extremism'.
A day later, during a service, Bishop Budde implored both the US leader and his VP, JD Vance, to their faces: "Mr President, millions have put their trust in you, and as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God.
"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.
"And the people, the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labour 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."
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In a final plea, she asked Trump to 'have mercy on those in our communities whose children fear their parents will be taken away' and for the president to 'help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here'.
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Viewers' reactions
As we say, however, footage of the public plea is now doing the rounds online, with many viewers claiming there's something off about the reactions of those sitting on the front row - Trump, Melania, his vice president JD Vance, and his wife Usha.
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"The lack of empathy in their faces is disturbing," one noted online.
Another penned: "That whole side sitting with him obviously does not care. You can see it all over their faces. It’s really sad. Courageous of her to try."
A third added: "in one ear out the other i fear :(," as another went on: "dead in the eyes."
"Trumps eyes are literally black," a fifth wrote. "He looks completely soulless. I can see the disdain in Vance’s eyes.
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What is Trump thought to have said?
As we say, the footage has since sparked mass debate online, with many commending Budde for her bravery and others attempting to determine what the president said - and one expert chimed in on the debate earlier today.
Speaking to Tyla, licensed lip-reader Jeremy Freeman claimed to have determined what exactly Trump told his confidante during the service, revealing he believes the president told his VP: "Can you believe it? ... Vile."
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He went on to tell us that whilst he's unsure of the 'last word' spoken by Trump, he believes it 'closely matches what I saw - and the context'.
How has Trump since responded to Budde's plea?
In the early hours of this morning, Trump - who is the first convicted felon to serve in the role as president - hit back at the Budde's comments, branding her both 'not compelling or smart' and claiming she 'owe[s] the public an apology'.
Writing on his Truth Social platform at 1.00am (UK time), he slammed the clergywoman: "The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater."
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He went on: "She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart.
"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!"
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30, 10am–6pm Monday to Friday, or email [email protected]
Topics: Donald Trump, Celebrity, US News, Politics, News
Rhianna Benson