In a bold departure from tradition, Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde turned what is usually a unifying National Prayer Service into a platform for pushing left-wing politics. The Washington, D.C.-based bishop used the sacred gathering to lecture President Trump on immigration, LGBTQ issues, and other progressive causes, much to the dismay of conservatives and traditionalists who view the service as a moment of bipartisan reflection.

The bishop, who has long been outspoken about her political leanings, appeared unapologetic about her remarks during an interview on ABC’s *The View*. “How could it not be politicized? We’re in a hyperpolitical climate,” Budde remarked, doubling down on her decision to inject political rhetoric into the event. She added, “I was trying to speak a truth that I felt needed to be said, but to do it in as respectful and kind a way as I could.”

Respectful? Many would beg to differ. During her sermon, Budde looked directly at President Trump, seated nearby, and made emotionally charged appeals about “gay, lesbian, and transgender children” who allegedly “fear for their lives.” She also implored the president to “have mercy” on immigrant families, suggesting that children live in fear of their parents being deported under Trump’s policies. The scene felt more like a progressive rally than a prayer service intended to promote unity.

President Trump wasted no time responding. Taking to Truth Social, he blasted Budde as a “nasty” and “Radical Left hardline Trump hater,” accusing her of dragging her church into politics in a “very ungracious way.” Trump, never one to mince words, called her sermon “not compelling or smart” and demanded a public apology—something Budde has made clear she has no intention of offering.

In a follow-up interview with CNN, Budde described her sermon as a “one-on-one conversation with the president,” claiming she wanted to remind him that there is “room for mercy.” Yet her condescending tone and overtly political messaging suggested otherwise. Rather than fostering dialogue, Budde’s remarks seemed designed to score points with her progressive base at Trump’s expense.

Despite the backlash, Budde expressed a willingness to meet with the president, though she placed the burden on him to extend the invitation. “I would welcome the opportunity,” she said on *The View*. “I have no idea how that would go, but I can assure him and everyone listening that I would be as respectful as I would with any person.”

However, her version of “respect” appears selective. By using her position as a religious leader to push divisive rhetoric, Budde undermined the very principles of unity and humility she claimed to promote. For many, her sermon was a glaring example of how the left uses religious institutions as political tools, weaponizing the pulpit to attack those who don’t align with their worldview.

Budde insists she has “a great deal of respect” for the presidency, but her actions suggest otherwise. Instead of fostering unity at a time when the nation deeply needs it, she chose to sow division, leaving many Americans wondering if her message was about faith or simply politics in disguise.