Donald Trump demands apology from ‘nasty’ bishop

US President Donald Trump has let loose on Truth Social after a bishop ripped into him during a church service to mark his inauguration.

Donald Trump has demanded an apology from a bishop after he watched in disbelief as she ripped into him, calling for him to show “mercy” to illegal immigrants and transgender children, during a church service on his first full day in office.

The president, in a lengthy post on Truth Social, called Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s remarks “nasty” and not smart.

“The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater. She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart,” he said.

“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”.

Mr Trump continued: “It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA. Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one.”

Mr Trump also called on the bishop and the church to apologise to him.

“She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!”

President Donald Trump attends the national prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral. Picture: AP

Mr Trump sat stony-faced as Marianne Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, told the service that transgender kids were “fearing for their lives” in a highly political speech at Washington National Cathedral.

It came after the Trump administration issued executive orders rolling back transgender rights and toughening immigration policies.

Referencing Mr Trump’s belief that he was saved by God from an assassin’s bullet, Bishop Budde said: “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.”

When he returned to the White House, Mr Trump was asked about the sermon.

Bishop Mariann Budde leads the national prayer service. Picture: AP

“Not too exciting, was it?” the US President said as he walked towards the Oval Office. “I didn’t think it was a good service. They could do much better.”

During her sermon, Bishop Budde addressed Mr Trump directly from the pulpit.

She told Mr Trump: “I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country that are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.”

Donald Trump during the national prayer service. Picture: AP

The clergywoman then asked Mr Trump to have mercy on illegal immigrants, saying the vast majority were not criminals.

Bishop Budde said: “The people who pick our crops, and clean our office buildings, who labour in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants, and work the night shifts in hospitals, they might not be citizens or have the proper documentation.

“The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. I ask you to have mercy Mr. President on those in communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.”

The service was largely focused on national unity and was also attended by Vice President JD Vance, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defence Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.

In her sermon, Bishop Budde said they gathered “to pray for unity as a people and a nation — not for agreement, political or otherwise — but for the kind of unity that fosters community across diversity and division.”

“Unity is not partisan,” she said.

More than a dozen religious leaders spoke during the interfaith service, including those from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu traditions.

Bishop Budde has previously criticised Mr Trump for his “racialised rhetoric”, blaming him for inciting violence on January 6, 2021.

Originally published as Donald Trump demands apology from ‘nasty’ bishop