Trump calls Washington bishop ‘nasty’, demands apology

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Jan 22 called a Washington bishop “nasty” and demanded an apology, after she told the US leader from the pulpit that he was sowing fear among the country’s immigrants and LGBTQ people.

“The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard-line Trump hater,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform about the Jan 21 service.

“She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart,” wrote Mr Trump, after

attending a service at the Washington National Cathedral

given by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.

Mr Trump

issued measures on Jan 20,

after being sworn in as president for the second time, to suspend the arrival of asylum seekers and expel migrants in the country illegally.

He also decreed that only two sexes – male and female, but not transgender – will be recognised.

Bishop Budde told an unsmiling Mr Trump, who was seated in the church’s front pew for the customary inaugural service next to his wife Melania: “I ask you to have mercy, Mr President.”

Asked what he thought about her remarks, Mr Trump earlier said: “I didn’t think it was a good service.”

But in his Truth Social post, the President slammed the bishop, without naming her, and railed against “illegal migrants”.

“Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!” AFP