They may have put on a calm and collected front at the time, but expert analysis has revealed exactly what America’s First Family was really thinking as President Trump was scolded by Bishop Mariann Budde.
Budde caused a stir inside the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday as Trump and his family attended the National Prayer Service.
The 65-year-old, made comments concerning LGBTQ people and undocumented migrants during the service, seemingly taking a jab at Trump and his policies.
As she did so, television cameras captured the faces of the first family, alongside Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha, who couldn’t believe their ears.
Some of Trump’s children could be seen making comments amongst themselves, with forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman telling DailyMail.com exactly what was being said.
When Budde mentioned that some people’s ‘hopes and dreams’ would have been lost with the new presidential term, there was an immediate stir amongst the group.
Eric Trump could be seen turning to his wife Lara and sister Tiffany as Budde spoke. Tiffany then turned to her husband Michael Boulos and uttered: ‘Can you believe it?’
The First Family’s stunned faces: From L-R, Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., President Donald Trump, Lara Trump, Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Michael Boulos
Mariann Budde, seen here, caused a stir inside the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday as Trump and his family attended the National Prayer Service
Behind Tiffany was her elder brother Don Jr., who responded to someone slightly out of frame a few moments after saying: ‘I can’t believe it, no’, according to Freeman.
After the Bishop mentioned ‘contempt’ fueling politics and social media and noted it was a dangerous way to lead the country, Eric visibly reacted.
He could be seen leaning back in his chair, seemingly shocked by the comment, before his wife Lara whispered something to her sister-in-law Tiffany, which wasn’t decipherable.
The two had a quick exchange in conversation before both turning back to the service, when Eric again quickly spoke to the two.
A few moments later Tiffany turned to her husband Michael Boulos and said: ‘Come on’.
That was followed by Don Jr responding to someone out of shot saying: ‘Pardon…quite a bit’.
Budde mentioned that the way to honor dignity is by refusing to mock or demonize people, causing the President to turn to Vance.
The two had a quick glance at each other before Trump turned back to face Budde, but his attention was then drawn away across the aisle.
She went on to speak about humility – which is what she considers to be the final foundation of unity.
Vance was seen turning to his wife, while Tiffany turned to her husband and made a comment
Trump, first lady Melania Trump, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and second lady Usha Vance attend the National Prayer Service
Tiffany also again turns to Boulos and says the words: ‘Good and evil’, the rest of the exchange was unverifiable
Budde mentioned that the way to honor dignity is by refusing to mock or demonize people, causing the President to turn to Vance
The two, seen here behind Trump and Melania, had a quick exchange in conversation before both turning back to the service, when Eric again quickly spoke to the two
After the Bishop mentioned ‘contempt’ fueling politics and social media and noted it was a dangerous way to lead the country, Eric reacted, seen above
As she mentioned ‘saying and doing things we might regret’, Trump turned to Melania and said: ‘Can you believe it?’ which caused her to smile.
At the same time, Vance leaned into his wife Usha’s ear and muttered something, before she did the same with a slightly concerned look on her face. Just a few moments later, Usha then again spoke into his ear.
Tiffany again turned to Boulos and said the words: ‘Good and evil.’
Closing her sermon, Budde reached the apex of her lecture against the Trumps, saying: ‘There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives.’
Vance was seen turning to his wife, while Tiffany turned to her husband and made a comment.
‘Millions have put their trust in you, in the name of our God, I ask you, have mercy on people in our country who are scared now,’ Budde said.
Budde went on to make reference to the laboring workforce of migrants across the US, who clean restaurant kitchens and pick crops.
Freeman told DailyMail.com that as she mentioned the migrants working, Tiffany turned to her husband and said: ‘This [is] crazy’ he responded with a head shake.
Trump looked away from Budde as Vance shot him a glance down the pew, as Budde called for mercy on those she mentioned.
From back row left, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, from middle row left, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Tiffany Trump, Michael Boulos and Kai Trump, join President Donald Trump, from front row left, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance
She urged the new president: ‘They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals’.
As she closed the sermon and returned to her seat, Vance again made a comment in his wife’s ear. It is unclear what was said.
Body language expert Judi James also told DailyMail.com that there was clear signs of ‘group or herd responses’ from the First Family.
She said: ‘There’s some group or herd responses here as the Trump family alpha comes under attack from the pulpit.
‘During the build-up to the roasting the general mood seems to be one of settling boredom. Children are yawning, Trump himself has been flicking through his order of service or even chatting to Melania and even nudging her to make her smile and behind them backs are being straightened while there is a contagious outbreak of scratching and self-grooming rituals.
‘Don Jr appears to mirror his dad’s drooping eyelids, suggesting he might be fighting off the urge to sleep, but then the bishop utters the words ‘One final plea Mr President…’ and Trump’s closest family all appear more attentive, as though sensing a problem.
UK-based body language analyst Judi James, seen here told DailyMail.com that there was clear signs of ‘group or herd responses’ from the First Family
‘Ivanka and Lara look like the first two on the benches behind Trump to smell a problem brewing. Don Jr has a poker face with his chin raised and Eric’s pursed, puckered facial expression doesn’t seem to register concern or to change at all.
‘But then even Don Jr glances to the side and Tiffany looks at her husband in a tie-sign that hints at some embarrassment or awkwardness.
‘Lara looks like the most politically aware of the family group. She manages to sustain a stoic part-smile but her frequent eye-flick glances to Trump suggest she’s wanting to tune into his reaction and display loyalty.’
After the sermon, Trump spoke with reporters and briefly said that he thought Budde ‘could have been much better’.
That was hours before a Truth Social post in the middle of the night in which he unleashed on the Bishop.
In a scathing rebuke, Trump said: ‘The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater.
‘She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart.’
President Donald Trump attends the national prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington
Speaking on her comments regarding transgender children and illegal immigrants, the commander-in-chief said her argument ignored reality.
He continued: ‘She failed to mention the large number of illegal migrants that came into our Country and killed people.
‘Many were deposited from jails and mental institutions. It is a giant crime wave that is taking place in the USA.’
Trump added the service was ‘very boring and uninspiring’, before adding: ‘She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!’
His post came after Budde admitted live on CNN that she had used the National Prayer Service to berate Trump.
She told the outlet: ‘(I was) reminding us all that the people that are frightened in our country.
The two groups that I mentioned, are our fellow human beings, and that they have been portrayed all throughout the political campaign in the harshest of lights.
‘I wanted to counter, as gently as I could, with a reminder of their humanity and their place in our wider community.
‘I was speaking to the president because I felt that he has this moment now where he feels charged and empowered to do what he feels called to do, and I wanted to say there is room for mercy. There is room for a broader compassion.
‘We don’t need to portray with a broad cloth in the harshest of terms some of the most vulnerable people in our society, who are in fact our neighbors and our friends.’
The bishop, who proudly puts her pronouns in her Instagram biography, is also pro-gay marriage and previously donated to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama.
In a piece with the Washington Post in 2011, after being installed as the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, she was described as ‘unapologetically liberal’.
Speaking then, she told the outlet: ‘I’m in favor of gay marriage, always have been. At this point it’s a no-brainer.’
The diocese website boasts that she serves as an advocate of racial equity, gun violence prevention, immigration reform and inclusivity.
Budde, who is married with two adult children, had also previously oversaw a convention in the diocese that called for the disuse of gendered pronouns for God.
