The Bishop who made an LGBTQ+ plea to Donald Trump during a church service has broken her silence after his scathing comment about her.
Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde asked Trump - who is the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency - to show 'mercy' to LGBTQ+ people and immigrants in a speech made yesterday (21 January).
"Mr President, millions have put their trust in you," she addressed the 78-year-old Republican leader.
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"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 referencing Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship, urging him 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'.
Budde later broke her silence following the brave speech in an interview with CNN where she reminded everyone of the people 'who are frightened in our country'.
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She continued: "They are our fellow human beings who have been portrayed in the harshest of lights.
"I wanted to counter as gently as I could with a reminder of their humanity and place in our wider community.
"I wanted to say there is room for mercy and a broader compassion."
In the early hours of this morning (22 January), Trump hit back at the Bishop's comments made in her initial speech, branding Budde 'not compelling or smart' and claiming she 'owe[s] the public an apology'.
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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.
Trump 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.
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"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], or Mindline Trans+ on 0300 330 5468 - this line is open 8pm–midnight Mondays and Fridays and is run by trans volunteers.
Topics: LGBTQ, LGBTQ+, Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News
Rhiannon Ingle