Donald Trump sat stony-faced as a bishop told him to “have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now” at an interfaith prayer service.
The US president began day two of his second term with the event at the Washington National Cathedral, where he and wife Melania sat in the front row alongside vice president JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde was among the speakers who addressed the congregation – and she finished her address with a direct appeal to the returning president.
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She began: “Let me make one final plea, Mr President. Millions have put their trust in you.
“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.”
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Bishop Budde then highlighted the contributions of asylum seekers – a group Mr Trump has wasted no time in cracking down on.
“The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labour in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals,” she said, as Mr Trump turned away and looked over his shoulder, before examining the booklet he was holding.
“They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals,” she said. Mr Trump then looked down at the floor.
Bishop Budde continued: “I ask you to have mercy Mr President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.
“And that you help those who are fleeing war and persecution in their own lands, to find compassion and welcome here.
“Our god teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land.”
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It wasn’t just Mr Trump who looked uncomfortable. At the mention of the LGBT+ community, Mr Vance raised his eyebrows and turned to share a look with his wife, whose gaze remained firmly forward.
He repeated the move after the bishop spoke about immigrants and followed it up by whispering to Mrs Vance.
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At another point in the sermon, Mr Trump turned towards his VP and the pair shared a wordless exchange of looks.
Asked what he thought of the sermon as he returned to the Oval Office, the president told reporters: “They could have done better.”
