At the inaugural prayer service, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, made a direct appeal to President Donald Trump to have mercy on the LGBTQ+ community and undocumented migrant workers.

Referencing Trump’s belief that he was saved by God from assassination, Budde said, “You have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”

The Trump administration has already issued executive orders rolling back transgender rights and toughening immigration policies.

When he returned to the White House, Trump was asked about the sermon.

“Not too exciting, was it?” the president said as he walked with staff toward the Oval Office. “I didn’t think it was a good service. They could do much better.”

The Washington National Cathedral service was largely focused on national unity. Trump and Vice President JD Vance were in attendance with their families, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.

In her sermon, Budde said they gathered “to pray for unity as a people and a nation — not for agreement, political or otherwise — but for the kind of unity that fosters community across diversity and division.”

She added, “Unity is not partisan.”

Evangelicals were at the service but not on the program

More than a dozen religious leaders spoke during the interfaith service, including those from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu traditions.

Notably absent from the invited clergy with speaking roles were conservative evangelicals, who are among President Trump’s strongest supporters.

Nonetheless, some of those evangelical supporters were in the pews.

In attendance were Robert Jeffress, a longtime Trump supporter and pastor of Dallas’ First Baptist Church; Paula White-Cain, a televangelist and key spiritual adviser during Trump’s first term; and Lorenzo Sewell, the pastor of Detroit’s 180 Church who gave a spirited benediction at Monday’s inauguration.

A new kind of inaugural prayer service

The Washington National Cathedral has hosted 10 official inaugural prayer services for presidents of both parties. The tradition dates back to 1933.

The latest service had a different emphasis than previous ones. Its focus was on the nation instead of the new administration — a plan made before Election Day.

“We are in a unique moment in our country’s history, and it is time to approach this differently,” said the Very Rev. Randy Hollerith, dean of the Episcopal cathedral, in an October statement.

“This will be a service for all Americans, for the well-being of our nation, for our democracy.”

The texts and songs revolved around themes of compassion and togetherness, including a reading from Deuteronomy 10:17-21, which speaks of taking care of orphans and widows and all who are in need.

Sermons at inaugural services have often been given by ministers aligned with the incoming administration. In 2021, the Rev. William Barber, a progressive civil rights leader, preached before President Joe Biden at the cathedral.

Budde, who gave this year’s sermon, has joined other cathedral leaders in criticizing Trump previously, rebuking his “racialized rhetoric” and blaming him for inciting violence on Jan. 6, 2021.

Budde was “ outraged ” in 2020 after Trump staged an appearance in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, which is near the White House. He held up a Bible after the area had been cleared of peaceful protesters.

Eric Javits shares the story behind Melania Trump’s iconic inauguration hat and reacts to the “blocked kiss” and Donald Trump’s joke about her almost blowing away as she said farewell to the Bidens.

Music made for Trump

The one part of Tuesday’s service that seemed tailor-made for Trump was the inclusion of opera singer Christopher Macchio, who also sang the national anthem at the inauguration.

The tenor sang “Ave Maria,” a favorite song of Trump and one that Macchio sang at a Trump rally and the Republican National Convention.

Before the service began, Macchio performed hymns like “How Great Thou Art” and another Trump favorite, “Hallelujah,” written by Leonard Cohen.

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As the prayer service neared its end, Trump joined others in singing “America the Beautiful.”

Trump also thanked many of the clergy who participated as they processed past him — except for Budde, whom he did not acknowledge.

Associated Press reporter Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Newly released from prison, the founder of the antigovernment group the Oath Keepers stood outside the D.C. jail early Tuesday. He was awaiting the release of Jan. 6 defendants after President Donald Trump issued sweeping pardons, including of people convicted of brutal assaults on officers at the U.S. Capitol.

Stewart Rhodes told News4 he was released from Federal Correctional Institution, Cumberland in Maryland late Monday, after Trump pardoned about 1,500 criminal defendants. The president did not distinguish between violent and non-violent defendants, as some expected he would.

Rhodes had been sentenced to 18 years in prison for orchestrating the violent plot to keep Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 presidential election. On Tuesday morning, he said he was anticipating the release of about 20 J6 inmates from the jail in Southeast.

“We’re here to welcome them,” he said, wearing a black Trump 2020 hat.

“I think it’s a good day for America that all the wrongs are being undone. None of them should have been here in the first place,” Rhodes said.

Robert Morss, who had been sentenced to more than five years in prison for charges including assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon, also was outside the jail early Tuesday.

J6 supporters waited overnight in freezing temperatures for inmates to be released. Many Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers patrolled the entrance. Supporters marched to the doors late Monday and were told by police to move back.

Trump pardoned, commuted prison sentences or vowed to dismiss the cases of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, including people convicted of assaulting police officers. He used his clemency powers on his first day back in office to undo the massive prosecution of the unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy.

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On Jan. 6, 2021, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol as lawmakers worked to affirm President Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 election. More than 140 officers were assaulted, including more than 80 U.S. Capitol police officers and more than 60 MPD officers, according to the outgoing U.S. attorney’s office for D.C.

Attackers who beat police were armed with a long list of weapons, including: guns, stun guns, flagpoles, fire extinguishers, bike racks, batons, a metal whip, office furniture, pepper spray, bear spray, a tomahawk ax, a hatchet, a hockey stick, knuckle gloves, a baseball bat, a massive Trump billboard, Trump flags, a pitchfork, pieces of lumber, crutches and an explosive device.

News4’s Jessica Albert reports live from the D.C. jail, where 23 of 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants are being held and will soon be released.

Just weeks ago, the federal judge who presided over Rhodes’ seditious conspiracy case called the possibility of his release “frightening.”

“The notion that Stewart Rhodes could be absolved of his actions is frightening and ought to be frightening to anyone who cares about democracy in this country,” U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said.

NBC News and the Associated Press contributed prior reporting.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.

President Donald Trump arrived at the Commander-in-Chief Ball shortly after 10 PM ET on Monday, and shared his First Dance with first lady Melania Trump – his first of three ball appearances that night.

Shortly after the band played “Americans, We,” Trump was introduced by an emcee at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Mount Vernon Square, D.C.

The event is geared toward service members. 

For his first dance, Trump and first lady Melania Trump danced to a contemporary rendition of Julia Ward Howe’s 1861 Civil War anthem “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

The song was the clarion call of the Union Army of the Potomac – and the opposite number to the Confederate Army’s “Dixie.”

TRUMP PARDONS NEARLY ALL 1/6 DEFENDANTS

In brief remarks, Trump told the crowd the election was a “tremendous win” and that a big reason he won was “my relationship with you (the American people).”

At the military themed ball, he praised his Pentagon chief nominee Pete Hegseth.

Trump also spoke at two other balls later in the night, another located at the Washington Convention Center and the final one located at Union Station.

The Liberty Ball was sandwiched between the Commander-in-Chief Ball and the Starlight Ball.

While the Commander-in-Chief ball was geared towards service members, the Liberty Ball is set to include a wide-range of Trump supporters. It is being headlined by Trump’s address, but, also similar to the Commander-in-Chief Ball, will include some musical performances as well. Those performances will include country singer Jason Aldean, rapper Nelly, and the Village People.

At the Liberty Ball – also held at the convention center – Trump shared another first dance with Mrs. Trump.

Several members of the Trump family then took the stage, along with Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance. They danced to “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers.

Trump told the Liberty Ball crowd it had been “a hell of a day.”

BARRON TRUMP IS ALL GROWN UP

The balls follow a jam-packed day of events that included President Trump’s formal swearing-in ceremony, an inaugural parade at Capital One Arena, an Oval Office signing ceremony, and much more.

During the day’s events Trump signed a slew of executive orders related to border security, diversity, equity and inclusion, Jan. 6, energy and the climate, and the federal workforce. 

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The number of orders he signed outnumbered how many Trump signed during his first day in office in 2017, as well as the number that President Biden signed during his first day as president.

The Liberty Ball is set to include a wide-range of Trump supporters. It is being headlined by Trump’s address, but, also similar to the Commander-in-Chief Ball, will include some musical performances as well.