Melania Trump and JD Vance face backlash over 'vile reaction' to one moment in religious ceremony

Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance have been criticised for their reactions during a church service on Tuesday (21 January).

Earlier this week, Trump officially became the 47th US President, and has since been enjoying a number of ceremonies and celebrations to mark the historical moment.

One event, the Service of Prayer for the Nation - which was held at Washington National Cathedral yesterday - has been a bit of a talking point in the last 24 hours.

During the service, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling stood up to say a prayer for the 'most vulnerable' in society, telling the audience: "God, who we cannot love, unless we love our neighbour, let us pray for the most vulnerable in our community and lead us to be present with them in their suffering."

Prior to Bishop Easterling's prayer, Melania, Vance and Trump could be seen talking with each other following a hymn.

One person wrote on social media: "JD Vance starts laughing and Melania Trump is smiling at the National Prayer Service when they hear 'let us pray for the most vulnerable'. Vile."

While another said: "And when the Bishop said, 'let’s pray for the most vulnerable' with Vance and Melania smiling and laughing... the message she said, went right over their heads."

Others, however, agreed that the pair were laughing just seconds before the prayer was delivered.

Tyla has reached out to Melania and Vance's reps for comment.

Later on in the service, Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde's sermon went viral after she asked Trump to show 'mercy' to LGBTQ+ people and immigrants.

"Mr President, millions have put their trust in you," she addressed the 78-year-old Republican leader. "And as you told the nation yesterday, 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. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and Independent families, some who fear for their lives.

"And the people, the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labour in poultry farms and meat packing plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals - they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals."

The new president has since hit back at the Bishop's comments made in her initial speech, branding Budde 'not compelling or smart' and claiming she 'owe[s] the public an apology'.

Trump has responded to Reverend Budde's comments (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Writing on his Truth Social platform at 1.00am (UK time), he slammed the clergywoman: "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.

"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.

"Apart from her inappropriate statements, the service was a very boring and uninspiring one. She is not very good at her job! She and her church owe the public an apology!"