As corporations and institutions bow to Trump’s whims and grievances, a Washington, D.C., bishop, shaped by her time serving Minnesota, gives Americans a shining example of how to be brave.

Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, is a prominent religious leader who advocates for social justice issues, including immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.

President Donald Trump, left, watches as Rev. Mariann Budde, second right, arrives at the national prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump,

Rev. Mariann Budde the Episcopal Bishop of Washington defended a plea for mercy she made to President Donald Trump on behalf of immigrants and others during an inaugural prayer service a day before.

( The Hill) — Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde called on President Trump to have mercy on transgender children and immigrant families at a National Cathedral prayer service for the inauguration Tuesday, which went viral and prompted the president to call her “nasty in tone” and “not compelling or smart.”

The Episcopal bishop of Washington spoke with NPR to discuss her sermon addressing President Trump and why she asked him to have mercy.

Recent editorial endorsing bishop’s plea for mercy for LGBTQ+ and immigrants also excused Trump’s callousness toward them.

We are seeing the beginnings of an interfaith protest movement the likes of which we haven’t seen since the March on Washington.

(RNS) — The bishop spoke truth to power. She has inherited a long and sacred lineage. The Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde leads a prayer service attended by President Donald Trump at the Washington National Cathedral, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (RNS photo/Jack Jenkins)

The hate and racism from the Jim Crow era never truly died in the hearts and minds of many people. It was simply suppressed by progressive laws of tolerance and inclusion and by Christian leaders of all races appealing to the conscience of a hate-filled nation.

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is the only person who, in these days, has dared to publicly confront Donald Trump.