The content of the traditional prayer service that newly elected presidents participate in the day after the inauguration ceremony does not seem to have been what Donald Trump expected.
From the pulpit, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde spoke about LGBTQ people and immigrants – two groups that Trump has targeted with executive orders already on his first day in the White House.
I implore you to be merciful, Mr. President, said the bishop, and continued by saying that there are children who are homosexual and transpersons in both Democratic and Republican homes who are currently feeling fear.
Then she spoke about people who "may not be citizens or have the right documentation".
But the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals, preached the bishop.
More than ten religious leaders preached during the service and represented, in addition to Christianity, also Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu faith.
After the sermon, a reporter asked what Trump thought – whereupon he replied that "they could have done much better".
