(The hill) – Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, pastor at the National Cathedral’s dedication prayer service, called on President Donald Trump to have mercy toward transgender children and immigrant families in her homily Tuesday.
Budde told Trump, who was sitting in the front pew, that millions of Americans had “put their trust in you” before making her request to the president.
“I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are afraid. There are gay, lesbian, transgender children, Democratic, Republican and independent families – some are in fear for their lives,” she said.
She added: “The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who work in poultry farms and meat processing plants, who wash dishes after meals in restaurants and work night shifts in hospitals – they may not be citizens or have citizenship.” proper documentation, but the extensive majority of immigrants are not criminals.”
She explained that these workers “pay taxes” and are “faithful members” of U.S. churches, mosques, synagogues and temples, and argued that their children “fear that their parents will be taken away from them.”
She also called on Trump to aid people fleeing war zones and persecution.
“Find compassion,” she said.
The president was later asked what he thought of the service and he told reporters he didn’t find it “too exciting.”
“You could do a lot better,” Trump added.
During the sermon, Trump sat next to First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance, while his children sat near him.
The sermon takes place the morning after President Trump signed a number of executive ordersincluding one who recognizes only two genders – men and women – and another restricted immigration to fulfill his campaign promise and target migrants, particularly those who have committed crimes in the US
He signed an order suspending the admission of refugees for at least three months tries to augment He announced that he would limit U.S. detention capacity for housing migrants and that he would end birthright rights for children born to people living in the U.S. without legal status
