The sermon Trump heard on Christmas Eve featured a cruel emperor, migrants seeking refuge and ‘the hardest of years’

By Michelle Boorstein
December 25 at 4:28 PM

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump attended Christmas Eve services at one of the city’s most prominent — and liberal — houses of worship, Washington National Cathedral, and heard a sermon about the Christmas narrative — in particular, the use of power, human cruelty and the struggle of refugees who are turned away in “their greatest hour of need.”

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Washington’s Episcopal leader, said she learned of the decision by the Trumps and Vice President Pence and his wife to attend services shortly before they began and had written her sermon long before. She gave the same sermon to the 6 p.m. Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols, which the Pences attended, and the 10 p.m. Holy Eucharist, which the Trumps attended.

Budde said Tuesday that she and Cathedral Dean Randy Hollerith greeted the president and the vice president before the services, as is customary.

“President Trump went out of his way to participate,” she said. “He sang, prayed, greeted people. As we walked by (in the procession,) he was very present. I think that was lovely to see. In the midst of all we are struggling with right now, policy and practices aside, it’s Christmas, and the first family is always welcome.”

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