We are reminded to pray for our leaders and those in authority in 1 Timothy 2:
Instructions concerning Prayer
2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and acceptable before God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For
there is one God;
there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human,
6 who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time. 7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth.
8 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument, 9 also that the women should dress themselves in moderate clothing with reverence and self-control, not with their hair braided or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, 10 but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve, 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
1 Timothy 2, NRSVUE
It is God’s will that all people would be saved. So when we pray for our leaders to be saved, we pray God’s will.
And it says to pray for them to come to the knowledge of the truth. And we can pray for those things for ourselves too.
We also need to forgive our leaders for anything we are holding against them. Remember, forgiveness is not (just) for them, it’s for us.
We need to forgive those whose actions and policies have negatively affected us and we need to bless them in the same way that we forgive and bless our enemies.
We can choose to forgive them without letting them off the hook and they still need to be held legally accountable for what they did.
We don’t do this because we like them or because we agree with them but because it is the will of God.
Instead of making fun of them and gossiping about them we need to see the as individual people with real names and real families and real problems, and real people who need salvation and need to encounter and experience God and His peace in their lives, the same way we do.