Bishop Marian Edgar Bader joins NPR consider everything Wednesday to discuss her hope that President Trump's new administration will show compassion for vulnerable communities following her sermon on Tuesday.

"I decided to ask him for mercy as gently as possible," Episcopal Bishop Bard of Washington said of her plea to Trump. consider everything", "Talking about how dangerous it is to talk about these broad categories of people, especially immigrants, because they're all criminals or transgender kids, they're all dangerous in some way. "

"In order to unite as a country with so much diversity, we need mercy. We need compassion. We need empathy. And as you heard me say, I decided to appeal to the president."

her appearance in consider everything After a prayer service at Washington National Cathedral, the bishop addressed President Trump directly, who sat in the front row with Vice President Vance.

"Mr. President, let me make one final request," Budd said during his 15-minute sermon.

"Millions of people trust you. As you told the nation yesterday, you feel the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the fearful people of our country right now," Budd said, adding His eyes turned to the President.

Trump and his allies were quick to criticize the bishop's comments, with one Republican congressman saying the American-born Bard should "be added to the deportation list."

Despite the backlash, Budd told NPR that her comments were sincere and that she didn't regret bringing them to the president's attention.

"I don't hate the president, I pray for him," Budd said. "I don't feel the need to apologize for asking for forgiveness."

Bard's plea comes just a day after Trump rolled out a series of executive orders to make good on some of his most controversial campaign promises, including one that amounted to a rejection of transgender identities, calling it a "bogus statement" and Another plan seeks to abolish birthright citizenship, a right that has already faced legal challenges.

Budd said the orders and Trump's rhetoric stoked fear among society's most vulnerable.

"There are gay and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some of whom fear for their lives," Budd said.

“Those who pick our crops and clean our office buildings; those who work on poultry farms and meatpacking plants; those who wash dishes after we eat in restaurants, and those who work the night shift in hospitals— —They may not be citizens, and they may not have citizenship rights, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals, they are good neighbors.”

Trump criticized Bader's remarks, writing on his Truth social platform after midnight Wednesday: "The so-called bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning is a radical left hardline Trump hater."

"She brought her church into the political world in a very disrespectful way. Her tone was vile and neither compelling nor intelligent."