Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
(NewsNation) — After will be sworn in on MondayPresident Donald Trump marked his first full day in office with a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday morning.
Leaders from nearly a dozen different faiths attended the service, which has been a post-inaugural tradition since former President Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office.
Along with First Lady Melania Trump, the President was also joined by Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance.
The service is meant to be a way to push past the split of election in 2024employees say, and was not designed with one particular candidate in mind.
That’s a message the president tried to convey at the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball Monday night when he addressed the troops.
“Your bravery inspires us. Your service unites us, and your sacrifice and spirit protect us all,” Trump said. “We love you, we respect you so much, and we have a great commitment to each and every one of you. Starting today, America will be stronger and greater than it has ever been before.”
In her remarks at Tuesday’s service, the Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde addressed Trump’s policies regarding immigrants and those in the LGBTQ+ community.
“Mr. President, millions have put their trust in you,” Budde said. “I’m asking you to have mercy on the people of our country who are afraid. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and Independent families, some fearing for their lives and their people.”
Trump signed a series of executive orders Monday, including one that does so federal government recognizes only two genders, male and femaleand another declaring a national emergency at the border.
In addition, Trump has said he wants to begin mass deportation raids.
When it came to immigration, Budde asked Trump to be compassionate to those “whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.”
“They may not be citizens or have the right documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors,” said Budde. “Our God teaches us to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land.”
Trump starts second term
Shortly after being sworn in, Trump signed a number of executive ordersrelated to diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government, gender identity, limitsecurity and other issues.
Additionally, Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for Secretary of State, was confirmed in a 99-0 vote Monday night.
John Ratcliffe, Trump’s nominee to head the CIA; Pete Hegseth, candidate for chief of the Department of Defense; Kristi Noem, nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security; and Russ Vought, nominated to head the Office of Management and Budget, are all up for a full Senate vote. Their confirmations have been passed by the Senate committee.
Trump’s nominee for UN ambassador, Elise Stefanik, supported his decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization at her own confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are on their way to the White House and are expected to meet with Trump on Tuesday.
The Associate Press contributed to this report.
