U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) criticized the reverend at the National Cathedral prayer service for the inauguration Tuesday over comments she made to President Donald Trump during the service.

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde told Trump and Vice President JD Vance behind the pulpit to “have mercy” on LGBTQ children as well as children of illegal immigrants.

“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared,” Budde said. “There are gay, lesbian, transgender children, Democratic, Republican, independent families — some who fear for their lives,” she said. “The people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking 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.”

Tuberville reacted to the comments on social media.

“These ‘trans children’ should live in fear of their parents and the sick people that enable those ‘guardians.’ It’s child abuse,” Tuberville said. “An absolute disgrace.”

These “trans children” should live in fear of their parents and the sick people that enable those “guardians”. It’s child abuse. An absolute disgrace. https://t.co/4Gi7REO0jY

— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) January 21, 2025

During Trump inaugural address Monday, the president promised that “the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.” Later in the day Trump signed an executive order making that promise a realty.

Tuberville, who has long been an advocate of protecting women’s sports from transgender players, celebrated Trump’s policy on the issue.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for recognizing that there are 2 genders: male and female,” Tuberville said. “Now, we need to pass my bill to get men OUT of women’s sports.”

Thank you, Mr. President, for recognizing that there are 2 genders: male and female.

Now, we need to pass my bill to get men OUT of women’s sports.

— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) January 20, 2025

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee