Video: Trump in front, bishop's mercy appeal for the LGBTQ+, illegal immigrants

Shortly after he took office, Trump announced that he would bring sweeping changes to the "gender identity" policy and also signed an executive order to launch an immediate crackdown on illegal immigration.

In Short

• Bishop highlights fear among LGBTQ+ and immigrant families
• Trump signs executive orders targeting LGBTQ+ community, illegal immigrants
• He dismisses prayer servuce as 'not too exciting'

A bishop made a direct appeal to US President Donald Trump during a prayer service, asking him to "have mercy in the name of God" on the LGBTQ+ community and undocumented illegal immigrants as his administration has targeted both these demographics via executive orders.

When asked later about the service, Trump told reporters that it was “not too exciting”.

"In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and Independent families. Some who fear for their lives," Right Reverend Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, said during the service at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday.

The direct appeal came as Trump was seated in the front row along with First Lady Melania Trump,Vice President JD Vance, and his wife Usha.

Also in attendance were House Speaker Mike Johnson, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other family members

"And people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, labour in poultry farms and meat-packing plants, 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. The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals," she added.

The bishop went on to say that these people "pay taxes, are good neighbours, faithful members of our churches, mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras and temples".

"I ask you to have mercy on those whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those fleeing war and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here... We were all once strangers in this land," she added.

Bishop Budde's appeal to the President came a day after Trump signed executive orders revoking Biden-era protections for transgender Americans, including one that directed the government to recognise only “two sexes – male and female”.

He also announced to do away with birthright citizenship, deploy additional troops to the southern border with Mexico and suspend the US refugee admissions programme.

As he returned to the White House after the prayer service, Trump was asked by reporters about his opinion on the sermon.

"Not too exciting, was it? I didn't think it was a good service. No...They can do much better," he said in response.

This is not the first time that Bishop Budde spoke out against the President's policies.

In 2020, she expressed "outrage" Trump staged an appearance in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church and held up a Bible after the area had been cleared of peaceful protesters.

A year later, she rebuked his “racialised rhetoric” and blamed him for inciting the Capitol Hill riots which took place as he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

(With AP inputs)