MARIANN Budde is the current Bishop of Washington and she is supported in her duty by her dear husband Paul. 

The bishop made headlines when she called for Trump to show “mercy” to LGBTQ Americans and asylum seekers, which led the president to brand her as “nasty”. 

Marital bliss

Not much is known about Paul Budde’s relationship with Mariann, except for the fact that they are married. 

They have two children together, whom they keep out of the public eye. 

Mariann became the ninth Bishop of Washington in November 2011 and continues to serve in the role today (as of January 2025). 

Fearless political commentator

Mariann is outspoken when it comes to politics and first made headlines in June 2020. 

She criticized the use of tear gas by police and National Guard troops to clear the grounds of St John’s Episcopal Church to allow Donald Trump to pose for a photo in front of the religious building. 

The Bishop said that the then-president used the Church as a “backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus”.

The Department of the Interior’s Inspector General reporter later said that the park was cleared for a contractor to install fencing. 

It was later stated by the Chief of the US Park Police that smoke canisters were used, not tear gas canisters, though some news outlets reported that the latter were found at the scene. 

Feud with trump

Paul’s wife Mariann made headlines again on January 21, 2025, when she delivered a sermon at the National Cathedral.

At one point during the sermon, she directly addressed Donald Trump. 

She said: “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.

“There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in democratic, republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives.”

Mariann added that she believes asylum seekers make valuable contributions to America.

Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to brand Bishop Budde a “radical left hardline Trump hater” and said that she was “nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart”.

Republican congressman Mike Collins said that Mariann’s call for mercy meant that she should be “added to the deportation list”.