Bishop Marianne Edgar Bud became the subject of national conversation after addressing President Trump. All about the bishop, prayer service, and reaction
22 january 2025 в 23:13
Bishop Marianne Edgar Bud instantly became the subject of national conversation after addressing President Donald Trump directly during a sermon the day after the inauguration. Here’s what you need to know about the Episcopal bishop, the prayer service, and the reaction.
According to the New York Times, Bishop Bud is the first woman to hold the position of spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. She has been leading the diocese for over ten years, since 2011. Bud, 65, previously served as rector in Minneapolis at the Church of St. John the Evangelist. She grew up in Colorado and New Jersey, studied at the University of Rochester. She also holds a master’s degree in theology and a doctorate in theology from Virginia Theological Seminary.
According to the Independent, and viral videos currently circulating on the internet, Bishop Bud appealed for mercy directly to President Trump when he and his wife Melania attended her prayer service on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at the National Cathedral in Washington.
«In our country, there are gays, lesbians, and transgender children in democratic, republican, and independent families, some of whom are afraid for their lives», - she said from the pulpit. «Millions have placed their hope in you. In the name of our God, I ask you, have mercy on the people in our country who are now frightened».
Bishop Bud continued, addressing the concerns of migrants living in the country. «People who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; those who work in poultry factories and meatpacking plants; those who wash dishes after our lunch in restaurants and work night shifts in hospitals, they — they may not be citizens or have the right documents», - she said. «But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors».
In a phone interview with the New York Times, Bishop Bud clarified that her goal was not «publicly condemning the president». «I was trying to say: the country is entrusted to you», - she explained. «And one of the qualities of a leader is mercy».
During a remote appearance on The View on January 22, she again commented on the sermon, not backing down. «I think if you read what I said, how can that be politicized?» she said. «We are in a hyper-political climate. One of the warnings I’m giving is the culture of contempt we live in, which immediately jumps to the worst possible interpretations of what people say and puts them in categories… It’s part of the air we breathe right now. And I was trying to speak the truth that, as I saw it, needed to be said, but to do so with respect and kindness, as well as to bring other voices into the conversation, voices that have not been heard in the public space for a long time».
President Trump himself told reporters after the prayer service that he was not impressed and that he «did not think it was a good service». According to The Hill, he turned to Truth Social to expand on his feelings about the service. «The so-called bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a radical left Trump hater», - he wrote on Wednesday, January 22. «She brought her church into the world of politics in a very undiplomatic way. She was unpleasant in tone and unconvincing or smart»
According to the New York Times, Bishop Bud is the first woman to hold the position of spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. She has been leading the diocese for over ten years, since 2011. Bud, 65, previously served as rector in Minneapolis at the Church of St. John the Evangelist. She grew up in Colorado and New Jersey, studied at the University of Rochester. She also holds a master’s degree in theology and a doctorate in theology from Virginia Theological Seminary.
According to the Independent, and viral videos currently circulating on the internet, Bishop Bud appealed for mercy directly to President Trump when he and his wife Melania attended her prayer service on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at the National Cathedral in Washington.
«In our country, there are gays, lesbians, and transgender children in democratic, republican, and independent families, some of whom are afraid for their lives», - she said from the pulpit. «Millions have placed their hope in you. In the name of our God, I ask you, have mercy on the people in our country who are now frightened».
Bishop Bud continued, addressing the concerns of migrants living in the country. «People who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; those who work in poultry factories and meatpacking plants; those who wash dishes after our lunch in restaurants and work night shifts in hospitals, they — they may not be citizens or have the right documents», - she said. «But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors».
In a phone interview with the New York Times, Bishop Bud clarified that her goal was not «publicly condemning the president». «I was trying to say: the country is entrusted to you», - she explained. «And one of the qualities of a leader is mercy».
During a remote appearance on The View on January 22, she again commented on the sermon, not backing down. «I think if you read what I said, how can that be politicized?» she said. «We are in a hyper-political climate. One of the warnings I’m giving is the culture of contempt we live in, which immediately jumps to the worst possible interpretations of what people say and puts them in categories… It’s part of the air we breathe right now. And I was trying to speak the truth that, as I saw it, needed to be said, but to do so with respect and kindness, as well as to bring other voices into the conversation, voices that have not been heard in the public space for a long time».
President Trump himself told reporters after the prayer service that he was not impressed and that he «did not think it was a good service». According to The Hill, he turned to Truth Social to expand on his feelings about the service. «The so-called bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a radical left Trump hater», - he wrote on Wednesday, January 22. «She brought her church into the world of politics in a very undiplomatic way. She was unpleasant in tone and unconvincing or smart»
© Puhova Marina
