Who is Mariann Edgar Budde? Bishop's plea for LGBTQ, immigrants angers Donald Trump, MAGAs

Bishop

Mariann Edgar Budde

, the first woman to lead the

Episcopal Diocese of Washington

, has sparked debates and discussions after urging Donald Trump to "have mercy" toward immigrants and LGBTQ individuals during President Donald Trump's inaugural prayer service. Her remarks drew praise from some hailing her courage and bravery to speak up but it also angered many

MAGAs

who claimed that the Bishop crossed a line.
During the interview, Budde explained her decision to address the president directly, citing the widespread anxiety she had witnessed, stating "of the fear that I have seen and experienced among our people -- people that I know and love, both within the immigrant community and within the LGBTQ community, and how terrified so many are."
She expressed her worries about the increasing hostility that certain individuals now feel empowered to display, noting "the level of license to be really quite cruel."
Budde clarified her intentions, explaining that her aim was not to criticise the president. She elaborated, "I wasn't necessarily calling the president out. I was trying to say, 'The country has been entrusted to you.'" She emphasised that leadership requires compassion, adding, "And one of the qualities of a leader is mercy, right? Mercy. And to be mindful of the people who are scared."

Who is Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde?

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, 65, is the first woman to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, a role she has held since 2011.
She is the spiritual leader for 86 Episcopal congregations and 10 Episcopal schools across the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties. She is the first woman elected to this role and serves as the chair of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, overseeing the Washington National Cathedral and its schools, according to the Episcopal Diocese of Washington's website.
She is a vocal advocate for social issues such as racial equity, gun violence prevention,

immigration reform

, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and environmental stewardship.
Bishop Budde

was consecrated as the ninth bishop of Washington in November 2011, following 18 years as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. She holds a BA in history from the University of Rochester (magna cum laude) and both a Master of Divinity (1989) and a Doctor of Ministry (2008) from Virginia Theological Seminary.
She has published three books: How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith (2023), Receiving Jesus: The Way of Love (2019), and Gathering Up the Fragments: Preaching as Spiritual Practice (2007).
Outside of her ministry, she enjoys biking, spending time with family, and cooking for friends. Bishop Budde and her husband, Paul, have two adult sons, Amos (married to Erika) and Patrick, and they are proud grandparents, according to the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.

Why are MAGAs angry at Bishop Budde?

As the the Bishop's plea went viral, several Trump supports jumped to social media to criticse the Bishop accusing her of overstepping boundaries and/or making the sermon "political".
Donald Trump himself took to his platform Truth Social to bash Bishop Budde calling for an apology. He said, "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. 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. 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. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!"

Rep. Mike Collins called for her deportation. "The person giving this sermon should be added to the deportation list," he said.

Staunch Republican Ben Shapiro also jumped to X to criticise the Bishop himself and shared several others bashing her too. "The Left's hollowing out of the church is perhaps the single most dangerous change over the course of the last half-century. Left-wing radicalism wearing around the flesh mask of Biblical values. Reverse it. Now," he said.

"He’s being nice. It was disgraceful. She embarrassed herself," said said CEO of Turning Point USA.

"Just disgraceful. A fake bishop abusing her ceremonial role to attack the president and vice president with liberal propaganda. Trump should never return to that Cathedral," said a Fox News Co-host.

Many others also took to X to criticise the Bishop calling for action against her or expressing their anger for targeting Trump in a Church. Even a petition was started calling for accountability from her, while calling for her termination.