On Jan. 21, a woman, though rather petite in stature, made a powerful, resonant speech that was to be talked about all around the world. The woman’s name is Mariann Budde, a 65 year old Episcopal bishop who stood up to newly elected President Trump.
Within her impactful sermon, Mariann spoke directly to Donald Trump. She advocated for the rights of both illegal immigrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community, declaring Trump “to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.” Though her tone was rather gentle and calm, her voice carried the weight of the incredible pain of those affected by Trump’s divisive decisions.
President Trump seemed rather unaffected by Budde’s urgent plea, his expression plain and disinterested; yet, Mariann’s sermon was a direct response to his incredibly harsh plans to inhibit the rights of these minority groups. At the inauguration just one day before, Trump declared his intention to tighten border control and to deport every single illegal immigrant out of the U.S. He also declared his extremely right-leaning take on natural born citizenship, in which he attempted to deport children who were born in the U.S. to illegal citizen parents. However, this harsh attempt was temporarily shut down by U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour, who called this executive order “blatantly unconstitutional.”
Additionally, President Trump has also made quite controversial decisions regarding members of the LGBTQ+ community. He recently signed an executive order stating that the U.S. government will only formally recognize two genders: male and female. This has caused an uproar in the LGBTQ+ community, as it entirely excludes those with non-gender conforming identities. These individuals have been urged to take a stand against Trump’s orders, many joining advocate organizations who may threaten to face President Trump in court.
Bishop Mariann Budde isn’t new to making a name for herself, as she has served as the first ever female spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington since 2011. She grew up in New Jersey and Colorado, before attending and graduating from the University of Rochester. Mariann Budde then spent nearly 20 years of her life living in Minnesota, serving as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, before eventually moving to Washington.
Following the sermon, President Trump furiously took to X, criticizing Budde for her pleas for mercy. He characterized her as a “so-called Bishop” and a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater.” He also described her tone as “nasty” and that she was “not compelling or smart.” Trump demanded an apology from both Mariann Budde and the church itself. He stated “the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not good at her job!”
As President Donald Trump continues to make new decisions, many possibly causing an even further division within our country, it is essential that society takes a stand against hate and violence. By using our 1st Amendment rights, we as citizens of the United States of America can make a positive change within the world to advocate for those who do not have a voice.
