'Episcopal bishop under fire': Pastors, conservatives criticize for using pulpit against Trump.

The D.C. pastor who gave a liberal sermon to President Trump and Vice President Vance during a church service is facing criticism from fellow pastors and social media users for using the pulpit to divide rather than unite.

Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, criticized Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington for her lecture on CNN or The View, which he deemed an embarrassment.

On X, Catholic Vote, a conservative nonprofit, criticized Liberal Protestant Pastor Mariann Edgar Budde for attacking Trump and Vance in her sermon, saying they should "have mercy" on gay, lesbian, and transgender children.

The bishop of the protestant church issued a warning that gay and transgender children allegedly "fear for their lives" and urged Trump to "have mercy," before shifting her attention to illegal immigrants living in the U.S.

Trump and Vance appeared visibly annoyed by the comments, with Trump looking off to his side and Vance shooting a look over at Trump.

Mariann Edgar Budde stated in a church service, "I beseech you, in the name of our God, to show compassion to the frightened individuals in our nation, including those from Democratic, Republican, and independent families who are gay, lesbian, and transgender children, some of whom fear for their lives."

Jack Brewer, a pastor and former NFL star, stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that the sermon is the start of Democrats' efforts to use race-baiting to draw America back into the harmful grasp of DEI.

Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church's Pastor Rob Pacienza, also the founder of the Institute for Faith and Culture, criticized the remark in a statement to Fox Digital.

Chicago Pastor Corey Brooks stated that he "desires to understand … why she did not request the prior administration to show compassion towards these transgender youths and immigrants."

"We knew a day of reckoning was coming. However, where was her request for compassion at that time? What the previous administration did was not compassion but ideological malpractice. They operated on children out of ideology. They allowed in people from other countries out of ideology. This was not compassion. Our compassion must be for our citizens first and foremost," he stated.

On social media, other critics criticized Budde's remarks, claiming they were an attack on Trump and his policies.

David Englehard, the pastor of Kings Church in New York City, stated that compassion without truth is a false virtue that can be easily manipulated, shallow, and destructive.

Englehard stated that, as Christ warned in John 8:44, the father of lies flourishes where truth is neglected, distorting benevolent intentions into weapons of hell. True compassion submits to the rule of law and justice-for its throne is founded on justice; without these, it is not compassion but rather the indulgence of deceit that serves the enemy of God.

The Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater. She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart. She failed to mention the large number of illegal migrants that came into our Country and killed people. Many were deposited from jails and mental institutions. It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA. Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. He posted that she is not very good at her job! He and the public owe her an apology.

Budde joined CNN and explained in a sermon that she was speaking directly to Trump.

In the conversation with the president, I was speaking directly to him and also to everyone who was listening. I reminded them that the two groups I mentioned are our fellow human beings, who have been portrayed in the harshest of lights during the political campaign. I wanted to counter this negativity by gently reminding them of their humanity and their place in our wider community.