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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – On his first full day as President, Donald Trump attended a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral, where he received a sermon that included unexpected themes of compassion for immigrants and support for LGBTQ+ rights.
In his inauguration speech just a day before, Trump asserted a binary view of gender and initiated controversial executive orders aimed at tightening immigration policy. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde took the opportunity during her sermon to urge the new president to show understanding towards those living in fear of his administration’s actions.
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Bishop Budde pointed out the presence of LGBTQ+ children in families across the political spectrum who may be frightened by the current political climate. “There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives,” she emphasized.
On the previous day, Trump had launched an extensive immigration crackdown, which involved deploying military resources for border security, enforcing sweeping bans on asylum applications, and making moves to limit citizenship rights for children born in the U.S.
Budde articulated a fervent plea for the immigrant community during her sermon. She highlighted the essential roles that immigrants fulfill in society, stating, “The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat-packing plants… may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.”
She called on Trump to show mercy towards families at risk of separation and to extend kindness to those fleeing violence and persecution: “I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.”
Trump’s demeanor during Budde’s speech suggested discomfort, and he later dismissed her comments when asked for his thoughts, labeling them as “not too exciting.”
Elon Musk, a high-profile supporter of Trump, also criticized Budde’s sermon on the social media platform X, suggesting she had fallen victim to what he called the “woke mind virus.” Interestingly, Musk has a transgender daughter who, in 2022, expressed her desire to change her name and distance herself from him, stating, “I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.”
(Reporting by Steve Holland; writing by Jeff Mason; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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www.yahoo.com