Bishop at inaugural prayer service urges Trump to 'have mercy' on LGBTQ children, immigrants. Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders on LGBTQ issues and immigration within hours of being sworn in as president.

President Donald Trump was in Washington D.C. for church services Tuesday, when Bishop Mariann Budde, born in New Jersey, asked him during the service to have “mercy” on undocumented immigrants and other marginal groups, which Trump has spoken critically of during his campaign.

“Millions have put their trust in you,” Budde said. “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”

The sermon delivered by the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, was part of a larger post-Inauguration Day interfaith ceremony at Washington National Cathedral. President was seated in the first row alongside first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and second lady Usha Vance during the service, a tradition undertaken by presidents of both parties.

Budde added: "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, temples, gurudwaras, and synagogues, ."

 

When Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington finished her sermon, Trump leaned over to say something to Vance, who shook his head in response.

Thereafter, as the President was walking through the White House colonnade with his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, reporters asked him what he thought of the sermon. He asked the group, “Did you like it? Find it exciting?” He then added that he “didn’t think it was a good service, no” and said they “could do much better.”