Referencing Trump’s belief that he was saved by God from assassination, Bishop Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, said, “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.”
She made specific mention of LGBTQ+ people and illegal immigrants. It's assumed she was making reference to Trump's criticism of DEI policies and his promise to crack down on illegal immigration.
When he returned to the White House, Trump was asked about the sermon.
“Not too exciting, was it?” the president said as he walked with staff toward the Oval Office. “I didn’t think it was a good service. They could do much better."
More than a dozen religious leaders spoke during the interfaith service, including those from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu traditions.
Notably absent from the invited clergy with speaking roles were conservative evangelicals, who are among President Trump’s strongest supporters.
Nonetheless, some of those evangelical supporters were in the pews.
In attendance were Robert Jeffress, a longtime Trump supporter and pastor of Dallas’ First Baptist Church and Lorenzo Sewell, the black pastor of Detroit’s 180 Church who gave a spirited benediction at Monday’s inauguration.
