Trump, Vance, and Rep Mike Collins are clearly not.
But here is one who gets it.
“You have felt the providential hand of a loving God,” she said, an apparent reference to Trump’s inaugural address, in which he declared that God had saved him from an assassin’s bullet to “make America great again”. She continued: “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now.”
Budde’s sermon amounted to a bold public criticism of the new president, who spent his first hours in office signing executive orders rolling back Biden-era protections for transgender Americans and laying the groundwork to carry out his promise of mass deportations. One executive order directed the federal government to recognize only “two sexes – male and female” while his immigration directives moved to dismantle birthright citizenship, send troops to the southern border and suspend the US refugee admissions program.
“There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in both Democratic, Republican and independent families who fear for their lives,” Budde said, asking his administration to show compassion.
She also spoke of immigrants – those who “pick our crops” and “work the night shift in hospitals” – but “may not be citizens or have the proper documentation.
“The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes, and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches, mosques and synagogues, gurdwara and temples,” she said, adding: “Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were once strangers in this land.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... SApp_OtherSpeaking from the pulpit at the Washington national cathedral, the Right Rev Mariann Budde delivered her sermon – and an impassioned plea – as Trump sat stone-faced in the front row, alongside Melania Trump and JD Vance. Asked later about the service, Trump told reporters it was “not too exciting”.
“I didn’t think it was a good service, no,” he said as he walked into the White House on Tuesday. “They could do much better.”
Trump allies have already begun to attack Budde over her comments. Georgia congressman Mike Collins said Budde, a US citizen, “should be added to the deportation list” for her words criticizing the president. Trump has vowed as president to protect Americans’ free speech.




