A lip-reader believes Donald Trump uttered a deeply disturbing remark to vice president JD Vance during a church service yesterday (21 Jan), after the Bishop of Washington begged the pair to 'have mercy' on the LGBTQ+ community during their term.
Her plea came just hours after the Republican leader's inauguration, after which he promptly signed off several executive orders, including one which states there are 'only two genders'.
What did Trump say about gender?
A policy outlined following the 78-year-old's speech told readers: "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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"These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality."
The order will also bring to an end 'wasteful' government programmes which promote diversity and inclusivity, as well as 'defending women from gender ideology extremism'.
Bishop Budde's heartbreaking plea
Following Trump's re-entrance into the Oval Office, Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde - the Bishop of Washington - asked the father-of-five to show 'mercy' to LGBTQ+ people and immigrants.
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In a speech made yesterday (21 Jan) in the new US leader's company, she implored: "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'.
Footage of Budde's plea later went viral online, with many commending her for her bravery.
Others, however, noticed Trump leaning towards Vance following her final message - though, what was said was previously seen to be ambiguous.
What did Trump say?
Now, however, licensed lip-reader Jeremy Freeman claims to have determined what exactly Trump told his confidante during the service.
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Speaking to Tyla, Freeman explained he believes the president tells his VP: "Can you believe it? ... Vile."
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 did Trump respond 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'.
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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."
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!"
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What else has Trump said about the LGBTQ+ community?
Prior to Monday's ceremony, Trump promised to order all federal agencies to end programmes that 'promote … gender transition at any age', and pledged to cut funding from hospitals providing gender-affirming care.
He also promised that federal law would rule that the US government not legally recognise trans people and rescind federal LGBTQ+ non-discrimination policies, like housing, healthcare and employment.
Tyla contacted the White House for comment.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+
Rhianna Benson