It has been just over one week since Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, the leader of nearly 90 Episcopal congregations in DC and Maryland did her Christian duty by publicly urging President Trump—with POTUS and his family seated nearby—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.”
Let’s just say that, in
typical Trumpian fashion, the 47th president did not react well,
taking to Truth Social to attack Bishop Budde and bringing down a torrent of
MAGA-driven rage upon the prelate.
So, one week later, how does
all this hold up? Well, Donald Trump has shown mercy on the 1500 domestic
terrorists he released from our prisons and/or pardoned for the attempted coup
on January 6, 2021. He’s show mercy on the world’s most powerful billionaires
who kissed his rings at the inauguration, and he’s shown mercy for Project
2025.
In the meantime, Trump has sought to inflict pain on the most vulnerable by denying the existence of trans Americans, ending safe haven for migrants at churches and schools, rounding up and deporting people in our communities, unilaterally suspending all federal loans and grants, freezing all humanitarian and foreign aid, illegally trying to end birthright citizenship, likely crippling the World Health Organization, and upending efforts to reduce the costs of life-saving prescription drugs. He is also making intentional decisions to harm Black and Latino communities, despite drawing increased support from such voters last year.
As expected, Trump learned the wrong lesson.
Aristotle is credited with saying that “Fear is the pain arising from the anticipation of evil.” Congratulations, Mr. President. You have achieved your objective in week one.
