The bishop who led the inaugural prayer service on Tuesday called on President Donald Trump to “have mercy” on his constituents, specifically mentioning LGBTQ individuals and immigrants.

Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, delivered her sermon as part of an interfaith service at Washington National Cathedral following the inauguration. The service, attended by Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance, is a longstanding tradition for U.S. presidents.

Bishop highlights struggles of LGBTQ and immigrant communities

“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” Budde said, addressing the president directly. “There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families. Some fear for their lives.”

She continued, “They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches, mosques and synagogues.”

Trump responds briefly to Sermon

After the sermon, Trump leaned over to speak to Vance, who shook his head in response.

Later, while walking through the White House colonnade with his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, reporters asked Trump for his thoughts on the sermon. He responded, “Did you like it? Find it exciting?” before adding, “I didn’t think it was a good service, no. We could do much better.”

A spokesperson for the Trump administration did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

Budde’s remarks came just one day after Trump took office and signed around 100 executive actions, some of which impacted LGBTQ rights and immigration.

On LGBTQ issues, Trump signed an executive order declaring that the U.S. government would recognize only male and female sexes, as well as another order to end “radical and wasteful” diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in federal agencies.

The Trump administration also removed LGBTQ resources from government websites, including a page on the State Department’s site that had promoted global LGBTQ rights.

In terms of immigration, Trump signed a series of orders, including one to end birthright citizenship, halt refugee admissions, and deploy the military to the southern border.

Many of these actions are expected to face significant legal challenges. On Tuesday, over a dozen Democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Trump’s birthright citizenship order, which they argue violates the 14th Amendment.

Additionally, the administration halted the use of the CBP One app, which allowed migrants to submit information and schedule appointments at southwest border ports of entry. It remains unclear whether this change is permanent.

This was not the first time Budde has criticized Trump. In June 2020, she penned an op-ed for The New York Times, condemning the then-president for clearing Lafayette Square during the George Floyd protests and posing with a Bible at St. John’s Church.

“The God I serve is on the side of justice,” she wrote. “Jesus calls his followers to emulate his example of sacrificial love and to build what he called the Kingdom of God on earth. What would the sacrificial love of Jesus look like now?”