The Rev. Marian Budd, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, on Wednesday defended A A call for mercy She presented to President Donald Trump on behalf of immigrants and others during the opening prayer the day before.
“We are now in a particularly tough moment when it comes to conversations about the immigrant population in our midst, and that is why the tone I have taken now,” Budd said during an interview with MSNBC.
Trump attended the inaugural prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, during which Budd implored the president to “have mercy on the people in our country who are afraid right now” and specifically referred to gay, lesbian and transgender children, some of whom she said “fear for their lives.”
Budd told host Rachel Maddow that instead of using “blanket terms,” she sought to make a direct appeal to Trump, who she noted has been entrusted with power by millions of voters.
“I wanted, as you heard, to make a plea, and ask him to expand his description of people who are now feeling afraid and in danger of losing everything, and I thought that would be the most respectful way to say it,” Budd said.
During Tuesday’s sermon, Budd also spoke about immigrants, saying that while some may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, “the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.”
Boddy said during an interview on Wednesday that her speech was intended to “appeal not just to the president, but to everyone who might listen, to appeal to what we know to be true about our immigrant neighbors, who they are, the kind of people we are fortunate to be among, and to remember them in Our understanding of what it means to be America.”
One day before Buddy’s speech, Trump concluded his first day in office by signing an executive order Which said the federal government would only recognize both gendersmale and female, and restoration RHe “Remain in Mexico” policy. It was put in place during his first term for those seeking to enter the United States through Mexico. Trump also declared a national emergency at the border that would allow the Department of Defense to deploy the Army and National Guard to the border.
On Wednesday, Trump criticized V.’s sermon Function on social truthcalling Budd a “so-called bishop” and a “hard-core radical left Trump hater.”
On Wednesday, White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt took aim at Budd in comments to Fox News, saying she had chosen to “weaponize the pulpit,” adding that the bishop’s statements during the sermon “were terrible, and she should apologize to President Trump for that.” The lies she told.”
When asked on Wednesday how she would respond to the vitriol she received in the wake of her engagement, Boddy said she was trying to “encourage a different kind of conversation.”
“You can certainly disagree with me. You can disagree with what I said or did. But can we, as Americans and children of God, speak to each other with respect? I’ll give you the same,” she said. .
