VIDEO. A bishop urges Donald Trump to “mercy”, the American president demands an apology

She cited in particular irregular migrants and young people from the LGBT+ community. Episcopalian Bishop of Washington Mariann Budde urged Donald Trump to show “mercy” for those who are “scared”, as his second term begins. “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy”she declared, Tuesday January 21, at the conclusion of her sermon in front of an impassive Donald Trump. The new American president attended this religious service at the Washington National Cathedral as part of the festivities surrounding his inauguration the day before.

“There are gay, lesbian, transgender children from Democratic, Republican or independent families, some of whom fear for their lives”detailed the bishop of the Anglican faith in the United States. “And the people who pick our crops, who clean our offices, who toil in poultry farms and slaughterhouses, who wash dishes after we dine in restaurants, and who work nights in hospitals.”she listed. “They may not be citizens, or they may not have the right papers, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals”pleaded the bishop before Donald Trump, accompanied by his family and his vice-president, JD Vance.

Donald Trump expressed his dissatisfaction on Wednesday. “This pseudo-bishop who spoke at the national prayer service Tuesday morning was a left-wing radical who hates Trump fiercely”he wrote on his Truth Social platform. “She brought her church into the world of politics in a very ungrateful way. She was mean in her tone and it was neither convincing nor intelligent…She and her church owe the public an apology!”.

The Republican placed the issue of the fight against illegal immigration at the heart of his victorious campaign, multiplying xenophobic outings in this regard. He promised during his inauguration speech that his administration would quickly “begin the process of sending millions and millions of foreign criminals back where they came from.” He also promised during his campaign to end “transgender delirium” and signed an executive order affirming that the United States would no longer recognize that “two sexes, male and female”, defined at birth.

The American president also suspended diversity program employees on Wednesday by putting them on forced leave. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed a message from the Federal Office of Personnel Management asking for information “all DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility) office employees are placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately”.