Monday’s “bipartisan” prayer service in Washington, D.C., was supposed to be a moment for national reflection, but unsurprisingly, it morphed into yet another progressive lecture disguised as a sermon. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde took center stage to deliver a politically charged plea aimed squarely at President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, turning what should have been a unifying moment into a soapbox for left-wing talking points.
Budde wasted no time diving headfirst into her agenda, imploring Trump to “have mercy” on a laundry list of progressive causes. From advocating for LGBTQ+ youth to illegal immigrants, her speech sounded less like a prayer and more like a campaign rally. The president and vice president, visibly unimpressed, exchanged a knowing look as Budde carried on with her moral grandstanding.
“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President,” Budde said dramatically. “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.” She went on to describe immigrants who, despite lacking legal documentation, “pay taxes” and “are good neighbors,” conveniently sidestepping the very real consequences of illegal immigration, like the strain it places on public resources or, let’s not forget, national security.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. She’s the first woman to hold the position.
She was given a great honor today, a chance to unify America around a Christian message at the dawn of a new administration. Instead, she disgraced… pic.twitter.com/IFA6a3nZno
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 21, 2025
Of course, this speech didn’t sit well with many Americans who see the increasing politicization of religious platforms as a step too far. What was supposed to be a prayer service turned into yet another progressive guilt trip—one that felt more like a scolding than a call for unity. But Budde didn’t stop there. When pressed on her comments during a CNN interview later in the week, she doubled down, claiming it was her “responsibility” to “counter” the president.
Let’s be honest here: this isn’t about compassion or unity. Budde has a long track record of political activism, and this sermon was simply another opportunity to push her agenda. According to public records, Budde donated to Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign and has openly supported progressive causes. Even her son, Amos, is in on the act, reportedly working with a former Obama campaign head and contributing to George Soros-backed political groups. This is less about faith and more about using religion as a thin veil for politics.
And let’s not forget the irony of Budde’s “mercy” speech. While she waxed poetic about the humanity of illegal immigrants and LGBTQ+ youth, she conveniently ignored the harsh realities of illegal immigration: drug trafficking, human smuggling, and the tragic rise in crimes committed by those who cross the border unlawfully. As President Trump pointed out in his response on Truth Social, “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.”
It also comes as no surprise that her eldest son, Amos Budde, was the former head of Barack Obama’s campaign tech team, and he also contributes to George Soros’s PAC.
@RealTomHoman
So Bishop Mariann Budde is a lawbreaker…aiding and abetting criminal illegal aliens.And look at who and what her son is connected to. https://t.co/sl9gYVAAg5 pic.twitter.com/B0pWutLsFa
— Truther Think Tank (@TruthThinkTank) January 23, 2025
Trump is right—this isn’t just about abstract ideals or feel-good platitudes. This is about the safety and sovereignty of the United States. By sidestepping those inconvenient truths, Budde’s remarks came off as more naïve than noble. And let’s be real—her decision to single out the president in such a public and sanctimonious way wasn’t about “mercy” or “reminders of humanity.” It was about signaling her progressive credentials to her audience, both in the room and watching from home.
Americans aren’t fooled by these kinds of stunts. If Budde wanted to deliver a heartfelt message of unity, she could have done so without turning the prayer service into a political spectacle. But she didn’t—and that speaks volumes. Her sermon wasn’t a call for reflection; it was a sermonized campaign rally, wrapped in the language of faith but dripping with partisan politics. And frankly, the American people deserve better than this kind of self-righteous theater.
