Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is one of those people who can make waves just by stepping up to a podium. The first woman to lead the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, she’s no stranger to stirring conversations, especially when she’s standing in the crosshairs of politics and faith.
Mariann Budde Has Two Grown Children With Her Husband, Paul Budde, and They Are Proud Grandparents
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde is married to Paul Budde, her cyclist husband and self-proclaimed “riding companion through life.” The 65-year-old has managed to balance her fiery public presence with a deeply personal and supportive family life. Together, they have two children, grown sons, Amos and Patrick. Amos is married to Erika, and Mariann and Paul are now doting grandparents, a role that seems to bring them endless joy. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s a lot more to unpack here.
Mariann’s journey to becoming a leading voice in Washington wasn’t exactly a straight line. She grew up splitting her childhood between New Jersey and Colorado and later graduated from the University of Rochester in upstate New York. From there, she spent nearly 20 years as the rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis before taking on the monumental role of Bishop of Washington in 2011. That position didn’t just place her in charge of the diocese—it also connected her to the iconic Washington National Cathedral. It’s here that her voice has resonated across aisles, sometimes causing friction, sometimes sparking inspiration.
Her husband, Paul, may not be in the spotlight as often, but he’s clearly a grounding force in her life. Mariann doesn’t gush about him often, but when she does, the admiration is palpable. In August 2022, she shared a photo of them biking together against a stunning mountain backdrop, captioning it: “One moment in a week with Paul Budde.”
This wasn’t long after she publicly thanked him for helping her overcome the fear of getting back on a bike after a nasty fall earlier that year. Her words were heartfelt: “With thanks to a great surgeon, lots of support from family and friends, and Paul, my riding companion through life, who helped me get over the yips.” Their relationship seems like a partnership in every sense—one built on mutual support, shared adventures, and quiet resilience.
The Bishop vs. The President: Mariann Edgar Budde’s Bold Plea for Mercy
While her personal life paints a picture of grounded contentment, Mariann’s public persona is fiery and unapologetic. Her clashes with former President Donald Trump are perhaps the most defining examples of her courage to speak truth to power.
It started in June 2020 when she openly criticized Trump’s controversial photo op in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church. To clear the area for the president, law enforcement used tear gas—or smoke canisters, depending on who you ask—to disperse peaceful protesters. Mariann didn’t hold back, accusing Trump of using the church as a “backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.” Her words sent shockwaves, and the president wasn’t pleased, to say the least.
Fast-forward to January 21, 2025, and Mariann was back at it. During an inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral, she stood at the dais and addressed Trump directly. Her plea? Mercy. Mercy for immigrants, for LGBTQ+ individuals, for those who felt marginalized or terrified under his administration.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde: “The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors…may I ask you to have mercy Mr. President on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.” pic.twitter.com/iXaHJrPsof
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 21, 2025
With Trump seated in the front row, she delivered her message with clarity and conviction: “Let me make one final plea, Mr. President: Millions have put their trust in you. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.” She highlighted the fears of gay, lesbian, and transgender children, as well as the contributions of immigrants who “labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants” or work hospital night shifts. Her words were a call for compassion, a reminder that “we were all once strangers in this land.”
Trump, true to form, didn’t take kindly to the sermon. Later that day, he dismissed the service as “not too exciting” and criticized the organizers for not doing better. On Truth Social, his own social media platform, he labeled Mariann a “radical left hardline Trump hater” and called her “nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart.” The backlash didn’t stop there. Republican Congressman Mike Collins even suggested that Mariann’s plea for mercy was grounds to add her to the “deportation list.”
Bishop Edgar Budde: “My responsibility yesterday morning was to pray to the nation for unity… Unity requires a certain degree of mercy… We need to treat everyone with dignity. I was trying to counter the narrative that is so divisive in which real people are being harmed.” pic.twitter.com/dJ7VZW8MUd
— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) January 22, 2025
But Mariann, ever the unflinching leader, didn’t seem rattled. In an interview, she clarified that her words weren’t necessarily aimed at calling Trump out. Instead, she was responding to the palpable fear she’d witnessed in Washington’s immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities. “I was trying to say: The country has been entrusted to you,” she explained. “And one of the qualities of a leader is mercy.” Her hope was that her message would resonate beyond Trump, touching the hearts of ordinary Americans who might need reminding that kindness and dignity aren’t partisan issues.
NEW: The liberal activist bishop who told Trump to show “mercy” to LGBT kids, says she called out the president because it was her responsibility to “counter” him.
Your responsibility is not to turn a sermon into a political debate.
Bishop Mariann Budde joined CNN to double… pic.twitter.com/JQNoJCcgkz
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 22, 2025
What makes Mariann’s story so compelling is the duality of her life. On one hand, she’s the fearless political commentator who doesn’t shy away from confronting a sitting president. On the other, she’s a wife who shares quiet bike rides with her husband, a mother and grandmother who beams with pride over her family. She’s a leader who believes in the gospel of Jesus and its call to respect the dignity of every human being. Whether she’s addressing thousands from a pulpit or leaning on Paul for support after a fall, Mariann Edgar Budde embodies the kind of strength and compassion that feels rare in today’s world. Love her or hate her, you can’t deny her impact.
