Bishop lectures stony-faced Trump in church

Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde launched a strong criticism of President Donald Trump’s policies from the pulpit – Copyright AFP Jim WATSON

Donald Trump was forced Tuesday to sit through a sermon by a bishop begging him to have “mercy” on gays and poor immigrants as the Republican celebrated the start to his second term as US president.

Trump scowled as the Washington National Cathedral’s Mariann Edgar Budde pleaded the case from the pulpit for LGBT people and illegal migrants — two groups that Trump targeted with executive orders within hours of being sworn in on Monday.

Trump had gone to the traditional presidential service to commemorate his inauguration and was clearly not expecting the criticism.

“I ask you to have mercy, Mr President,” the bishop said softly, evoking the “fear” that she said is felt across the country.

“There are gay and lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families,” she said.

“The people who pick our farms and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals — they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation,” she said.

“But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.”

An unsmiling Trump, who sat in the first pew, looked back at Budde and sometimes away. His family and Vice President JD Vance seemed similarly surprised and displeased at the intervention.

Asked later by a reporter for his reaction, Trump said: “I didn’t think it was a good service.”

“They could do much better.”

Among scores of executive orders signed late Monday were measures to suspend the arrival of asylum seekers and expel migrants in the country illegally.

Trump also decreed that only two sexes — male and female, but not transgender — will be recognized.