The National Prayer Service held in Washington, D.C., on Monday, intended as a bipartisan event of reflection, took a divisive turn when Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde used the platform to deliver a pointed appeal directed at President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Budde’s remarks, focused on progressive causes such as LGBTQ+ rights and immigration, drew visible reactions from the president and vice president, as well as sharp backlash from critics.

During her address, Budde implored President Trump to “have mercy” on marginalized groups, including undocumented immigrants and LGBTQ+ youth.

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In her plea, she emphasized the contributions of immigrants working in various sectors across the country.

“Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you. And as you told the nation yesterday, 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,” Budde said.

She continued, “The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals, they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors.”

Trump and Vance were seen exchanging glances and appeared visibly unimpressed during the speech, with critics accusing Budde of using a religious platform to promote a political agenda.

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In a Wednesday interview with CNN, Budde defended her comments, stating that it was her duty to “counter” Trump and remind listeners of the humanity of marginalized groups.

“I was looking at the President because I was speaking directly to him. I was also, frankly as you do in every sermon, speaking to everyone who was listening through that one-on-one conversation with the President, reminding us all that the people that are frightened in our country…are our fellow human beings,” Budde said.

Budde claimed her remarks were not intended as overtly political but admitted that she felt compelled to challenge Trump.

“I wanted to counter as gently as I could with a reminder of their humanity and their place in our wider community,” she explained.

Critics pointed to Budde’s history of political activism as evidence of her partisanship.

According to financial records, Budde donated $250 to Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012.

Her son, Amos, has been linked to political organizations, including George Soros’ Swing Left PAC and a former Obama campaign team leader, according to reports by Real Clear Politics.

This background fueled accusations that Budde used the prayer service to advance a left-wing agenda.

President Trump criticized Budde’s remarks on Truth Social, describing her as a “Radical Left hard-line Trump hater” who politicized the event.

“She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way,” Trump wrote.

“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.”

The prayer service, intended to promote unity, has instead become a flashpoint in the ongoing cultural and political divide.

While Budde insists her speech was rooted in compassion, critics argue it further politicized a sacred tradition.

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