Bishop Defends Asking Trump to ‘Have Mercy’ in Sermon

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, who called on President Donald Trump to “have mercy” for immigrants and LGBTQ children during a prayer service following the inauguration, told ABC’s “The View” on Wednesday that she would gladly sit down to talk with Trump about her sermon.

Budde, during the service on Tuesday attended by Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Second Lady Usha Vance asked Trump directly to “have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”

She went on to say that the vast majority of immigrants, even those who lack legal status to reside in the U.S., are “not criminals” and added, “There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives.”

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