Episcopal Bishop of Washington Mariann Edgar Budde appeared on MSNBC’sThe Rachel Maddow Show Wednesday evening to reflect on her sermon at Tuesday’s National Prayer Service. Delivered at Washington National Cathedral, her direct appeal to President Donald Trump for compassion and mercy earned her both praise and sharp criticism.
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Speaking directly to the president, Budde’s sermon addressed the fear and uncertainty experienced by marginalized communities, including immigrants and LGBTQ+ people, under the policies of Trump’s administration. Her remarks came just hours after Trump signed an executive order eliminating federal recognition of transgender and nonbinary identities, effectively stripping protections for gender-diverse Americans.
“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,” Budde said during the service, addressing Trump as he sat in the front row.
During her interview with Rachel Maddow, Budde explained what motivated her to include such a direct appeal in her sermon. “As I was thinking about [the end of the sermon], toward the end of my preparation, the pillars of unity, it struck me that I was missing one and that one, that last one, was mercy—to have mercy and compassion,” she said.
Budde elaborated on her decision to frame her message in a way that was both respectful and pointed. “I thought I would acknowledge to the president, acknowledge that he had come to the highest office of the land, that millions of people had entrusted him with this power. And I wanted to make…a plea, a request that he broaden his characterization of the people that are frightened now and are at risk of losing everything.”
Maddow praised Budde’s sermon as “the illustrated dictionary definition of what it means to speak truth to power.”
Trump wasn't happy with the message
The sermon was widely shared and replayed across major media outlets.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to lash out at Budde, calling her a “so-called bishop” and describing her sermon as “nasty in tone.” He accused her of politicizing the prayer service and demanded an apology.
The backlash extended beyond Trump’s criticism. Budde revealed that she had received death wishes from some of his supporters. “I’ve had people wish me dead,” she said during the interview. “I’m not sure they’ve threatened to kill me, but they seemed to be pleased if I met my eternal destiny sooner rather than later.”
Despite the hostility, Budde expressed her hope for a more respectful discourse.
“I was trying actually to encourage a different kind of conversation, that you can certainly disagree with me…But could we, as Americans and fellow children of God, speak to one another with respect? I would offer the same to you,” she said.
Budde added that a shift away from the extremes of contempt could help the nation address its challenges.
“We don’t have to go to the highest extremes of contempt when we are in a position of disagreement. And I think, if we could get that back as a country, we would go a long way in being able to work together to address the many problems that we face,” she said.
Budde's take on religion's role right now
Maddow also asked Budde about the broader role of the church in leading the public and helping Americans understand their moral responsibilities.
“We are called to take the teachings of our faith—to welcome the stranger, to love as we have been loved—and live that out in real terms with real people in our communities,” she said.
Budde noted that the tone of her sermon was shaped by the “particularly harsh moment” facing immigrant populations and other vulnerable groups in the U.S.
“That was the reason for the tone I took now,” she said.
She also acknowledged the unique opportunity she had to address the president directly. “It is also an audacious thing to address anyone directly in—from the pulpit,” she said. “This was a service of prayer for unity for the country. But it was on the occasion of the inauguration of a president.”
Budde also spoke about being a religious leader for some people. “I’m afraid every time I step into a pulpit, right?” she said with a laugh. “That really never goes away. Large or small, it doesn’t matter. It’s a huge responsibility, tremendous vocation.”
Maddow's praise for Budde
Maddow described Budde’s sermon as a moment of moral clarity that had struck a chord with Americans longing for leadership grounded in compassion and humility. For Budde, the significance of the moment lay in its broader implications for the country.
“I think perhaps the reason why it had the effect that it did is because, for a while now, there has been very little public—there hasn’t been much of a narrative outside of the narrative that the president has been describing,” she said.
Budde herself described her sermon as something that “filled a space that hadn’t been occupied for a while.”
Watch the full Rachel Maddow interview below.
- YouTubewww.youtube.com