Dem
47
GOP
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Continuing on the theme of asserting dominance, Donald Trump loves to attack people who are weaker than he is. On Tuesday, he attended an interfaith prayer service at Washington National Cathedral. It has been a tradition for newly inaugurated presidents for nearly a century. However, Trump normally wouldn't be caught dead in a church unless he was holding a rally outside of one and God demonstrated his disapproval by causing a major thunderstorm. Still he (Trump, not God) probably thought that being seen in or near a church once per term would make his evangelical supporters giddy with his religiosity. So he went and sat there looking bored, clearly wishing he was in the office signing XOs. Melania doesn't look real happy either.
The service was officiated by Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde. She is Washington's first female bishop, serving since 2011. In her sermon, she addressed Trump directly:
If you don't want to watch it, here is the key quote:
Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you. And as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God. 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.
It took Trump a day to react, but react he did, on his boutique social media site. He called the service very boring and uninspiring. He described the "so-called bishop" as a "Radical Left hard line Trump hater" who was politicizing her church. He noted that she didn't mention that some migrants have killed people (maybe so, but HE neglected to mention that the overwhelming majority of murders are committed by citizens born in the country). Finally, he added: "She is not very good at her job. She and her church owe the public an apology." Apparently Trump has not read the King Donald version of the made-in-China Bible he is selling.
Some Republicans defended Trump. Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), for example, tweeted: "The person giving this sermon should be added to the deportation list." That would mean sending her back to New Jersey, where she was born and where she clearly belongs. (V)