Bishops Apologize After Oval Office Prayer

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines expressed regret on Sunday over a White House meeting with President Donald Trump. The apology followed the public release of photographs and video showing the two religious leaders praying with the president at the Resolute Desk. Both men stated they had not intended the gathering to serve as a political endorsement for any party or candidate.

The meeting took place on October 22. According to Bishop Joensen, officials from the White House Faith Office arranged the session to discuss immigration, visa issues for international clergy, and the treatment of vulnerable populations. He described the event as a working discussion rather than a media event. In a statement, Joensen criticized those who used the imagery for partisan purposes. He wrote, 'I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes.'

The visual record of the visit was released by Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president. Martin is a communications adviser who often shares behind-the-scenes content of the administration on social platforms. Grob said the group spent 90 minutes with officials before entering the Oval Office for a prayer session. He noted that none of the participants granted permission for the public distribution of the resulting media.

Grob acknowledged that the images raised alarms among his congregation. He received messages from parishioners who worried he had inadvertently joined a political event just before the national election. Some parishioners reported feeling wounded because they or their families had been affected by the president's policies. Grob emphasized that he believed the meeting was private and not a staged photo opportunity.

The controversy arrives as Trump’s approval ratings among Catholic voters decline. A Pew Research Center survey conducted this month found that 30% of US Catholics approve of his job performance. That figure is down from 47% when he returned to office in 2025. The data suggests a potential shift in the voting bloc ahead of the midterms.

The 3 November election will determine control of Congress. The survey indicates that 42% of Catholics prefer Democratic candidates in their local House races, compared to 39% who favor Republicans. The administration’s relationship with the Catholic Church remains strained. Pope Leo XIV and Trump have clashed over immigration enforcement, and the bishops recently criticized plans to livestream a military execution.

The White House responded to the bishops' comments with a statement from Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers. She did not directly address the specific questions about the meeting. Instead, she affirmed the administration's standing with the faith community. 'There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it,' Rogers said.