Concerns for Bishop Mariann Budde's Safety Following Confrontation with President Trump

Just days after Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde's bold confrontation with President Donald Trump, her inner circle is expressing heightened worry for her safety due to a wave of violent comments aimed at her. During the National Prayer Service, Budde urged the president to show compassion to those most at risk, such as LGBTQ+ youth and immigrants, as he embarks on his second term. While some have lauded her bravery, Trump responded on Truth Social by labeling her as “nasty” and a “Radical Left hard line Trump hater,” which seemed to further incite his supporters.

In an interview, Budde acknowledged that she doesn’t focus on the negative feedback but noted that those close to her are alarmed by the volume of violent language encountered online. While Budde doesn't dwell on the comments, she recognizes a pervasive sense of fear and escalating violent rhetoric in the country today. Echoing sentiments from her past confrontations with Trump, Budde recalled a previous op-ed in which she condemned Trump's actions outside St. John's Episcopal Church during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

to ensure that others in the room could hear her message and reflect on personal struggles, thereby fostering empathy.

However, Trump's initial actions in office have not mirrored Budde's calls for compassion. His administration has already taken steps to undermine transgender rights and limit protections for immigrants. This includes executive orders primarily focused on redefining gender and rolling back previous administration policies aimed at promoting inclusion. Furthermore, Trump escalated the situation at the southern border by declaring a “national emergency,” resulting in the deployment of troops and significant challenges to birthright citizenship, which have sparked legal challenges.