Donald Trump Slammed By Bishop for Using St. John's Church as a 'Prop' for Photo Opp

The Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, is outraged by President Trump‘s decision to use St. John’s Episcopal Church for a photo opp amid the protests over the murder of George Floyd.

Police cleared protesters out of the streets near the church using tear gas and rubber bullets so that Trump and his team could visit the church for a photo opp.

Trump gave a short speech outside of the church while holding a bible in his hand.

“I am outraged,” Budde told the Washington Post. “I am the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and was not given even a courtesy call, that they would be clearing [the area] with tear gas so they could use one of our churches as a prop, holding a Bible, one that declares that God is love and when everything he has said and done is to enflame violence.”

She added, “I am beyond. We need moral leadership, and he’s done everything to divide us, and has just used one of the most sacred symbols of the Judeo-Christian tradition.”

Budde denounced Trump and said she doesn’t want him speaking for the church.

“I don’t want President Trump speaking for St. John’s,” she said. “We so dissociate ourselves from the messages of this president. We hold the teachings of our sacred texts to be so, so grounding to our lives and everything we do, and it is about love of neighbor and sacrificial love and justice.”