Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended an interfaith prayer service in Washington DC on Tuesday, with the President appearing to be struggling with tiredness

In the inaugural prayer service, the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington asked President Trump to "have mercy upon the people in our country."

President Donald Trump is demanding an apology from the Episcopal bishop of Washington after she asked him to have mercy on the LGBTQ+ community and migrants in the United States illegally during a prayer service marking his inauguration.

A screenshot taken from NBC News’ coverage of the state funeral for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has been altered to depict Melania Trump reading the event program upside down while seated in the Washington National Cathedral in posts online.

Melania Trump repeatedly did not respond to husband Donald Trump at Washington National Cathedral, so he was forced to speak to JD Vance over her.

Rev. Mariann Budde called on the new president to “have mercy” on undocumented immigrants and sexual minorities who were targeted by his hardline Day One blizzard of executive orders.

Following a traditional inaugural prayer service at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday, during which an Episcopal bishop called on President Donald Trump to show "mercy" toward LGBTQ people and immigrants, he told reporters the sermon "wasn't too exciting" and added he "didn't think it was a good service."

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance attend the national prayer service, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington.

I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away,” Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde said during the

Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders on LGBTQ issues and immigration within hours of being sworn in as president.

“In the Name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” Budde said. “There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican, and independent families. Some who fear for their lives.”

In recent weeks, Trump and his allies — notably billionaire Elon Musk on his X platform — have attacked Newsom’s leadership and at times promoted misinformation about California’s response. And House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested there should be conditions on federal wildfire aid to force changes in California.