Catholic Bishops Apologize for Meeting With Trump in Oval Office

Two Catholic bishops in the United States have said they regret meeting President Donald Trump at the White House after images of them praying with him were released and prompted many to ask whether they had made a political statement. Photos and video of the 22 October meeting show a group of bishops standing around Trump at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob, one of those pictured, said he had believed the meeting was private and not “a political photo opportunity.” He said that after 90 minutes of meetings with officials, the religious leaders were ushered into the Oval Office to pray with Trump.

In a statement posted online, Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, said the meeting had been arranged by officials with the White House Faith Office to discuss issues including immigration, visas for international clergy and the “exploitation of vulnerable poor persons.” He wrote: “In no way did any of us intend by our involvement to endorse any political party or any individual candidate.” He added: “I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes.”

A video of the meeting was released by Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president and communications adviser who frequently shares behind-the-scenes images of Trump on social media. Grob said none of the participants had given permission for the public distribution or posting of video or photos of the event.

Grob said the images later caused concern among some of his congregants. “I soon began receiving messages of serious concern over the possibility that I had inadvertently participated in a political event less than two weeks before a national election,” he wrote. “I also heard from some who felt wounded because of the ways they or their family have been harmed by the president’s policies.”

When contacted by the BBC, the White House did not directly address questions about the meeting or the bishops’ subsequent comments. In a statement, White House Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said: “There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it.”

According to the Pew Research Center, opinions of Trump’s performance have slipped among all major religious groups. In a survey conducted this month, 30% of all US Catholics said they approved of his job performance, compared with 47% when he returned to the White House in 2025. The survey also found that 42% of Catholics preferred the Democrats running in their local House of Representatives races, while 39% favoured Republicans. The 3 November midterm elections will decide control of Congress. Trump won the support of 55% of Catholic voters in 2024, Pew found.

Some US bishops have criticised the White House’s immigration stance, and Trump has had a tense relationship with Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church, during his second term, as he has moved aggressively to remove people believed to be in the US illegally.

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