The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington DC who drew intense national attention and the ire of Donald Trump when she publicly urged him to show mercy to the country’s immigrants and LGBTQ+ community following his second inauguration, has announced that she is stepping down from her post.
In a formal resignation letter addressed to her congregation and community, Budde shared that she will officially leave her position on June 3, 2028, following the consecration and ordination of the next diocesan bishop. Her departure marks the end of a notable and barrier-breaking tenure that has frequently placed her at the intersection of American faith, culture, and high-stakes national politics.
“I write today because I have discerned, in consultation with diocesan leadership and the Presiding Bishop’s office, that it is time to begin preparing for the election of your next bishop,” Budde wrote in her letter. “I have not come to this decision lightly or alone, and it will not be easy to say goodbye to the diocese I love.”
According to the letter, the diocese’s standing committee will outline the necessary next steps for the transition process, which will include the formal appointment of two separate committees to oversee the complex administrative and spiritual work required to select a successor. Budde, who is 66 years old, is historic within the region as the first woman to ever serve as the spiritual leader of the Episcopal diocese of Washington. She has guided the diocese since her election to the role in 2011, a major milestone that followed 18 years of dedicated service as the rector of St John’s Episcopal church in Minneapolis.
Throughout her leadership in the nation’s capital, Budde has frequently found herself speaking out on pressing moral and political issues, never shying away from addressing powerful figures directly from the pulpit. Her most recent national flashpoint occurred during a high-profile service connected to the presidential inauguration. During her sermon, Budde made headlines across the country by urging Donald Trump to extend compassion and mercy to vulnerable populations, specifically highlighting “gay, lesbian and transgender children” from all political backgrounds. She noted during the service that many of these young people live in profound fear for their lives under the current political climate.
The remarks drew an immediate and furious reaction from the president. Taking to social media on Truth Social, Trump demanded a public apology from the bishop and her church, expressing deep discontent with the tone and content of the 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,” the president wrote in his post. He went on to criticize the entire proceedings, adding, “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!”
However, the confrontation at the inauguration was far from the first time Budde had openly challenged or criticized Trump. Their contentious relationship dates back years, most notably to a turbulent moment during Trump’s first term in office. In June 2020, in the wake of widespread national protests sparked by the police murder of George Floyd, federal law enforcement officers used physical force and chemical irritants to violently clear a crowd of peaceful demonstrators gathered near Lafayette Square in front of St John’s Episcopal Church.
Shortly after the square was cleared, Trump walked from the White House across the cleared park to the historic church, where he stood holding up a Bible for a brief photo opportunity. The incident sparked immediate outrage from religious leaders and civil rights advocates across the nation, who condemned the use of force against peaceful citizens for a political photo-op.
In response to the event, Budde published a sharply critical opinion piece in the New York Times. In her essay, she expressed profound moral outrage over Trump’s actions, writing that the president had “used sacred symbols to cloak himself in the mantle of spiritual authority, while espousing positions antithetical to the Bible that he held in his hands.” The op-ed cemented her reputation as a fearless religious progressive willing to confront executive power when she believed fundamental moral principles were being compromised.
Looking toward the conclusion of her tenure and the future of the Episcopal diocese of Washington, Budde emphasized in her resignation letter that her primary focus moving forward remains on fostering a smooth, supportive, and healthy transition for whosoever shall succeed her. She noted that she is fully invested in preparing the institution for its next chapter under new leadership.
“Alongside the diocesan staff and leadership bodies, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the diocese is as strong and healthy as possible for this leadership transition,” Budde concluded in her letter. “I am praying for all involved, and especially for the one God is preparing to serve as the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Washington.”
