Bishops Grob and Joensen Regret Oval Office Prayer Session With Trump
Archbishops say they believed the 22 October meeting was private, but released photos have fueled debate among Catholic voters two weeks before the midterms.
By Haruka Mori ·
For thousands of Catholic voters in San Bernardino and across California, the 3 November midterm election is approaching with a new wrinkle. Two prominent US bishops have publicly expressed regret over a White House visit that many believers now view as a political endorsement. The controversy stems from images released two weeks ago showing religious leaders praying with President Donald Trump at the Resolute Desk.
Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, issued statements clarifying their intentions. Grob said he believed the session was private and not designed as a photo opportunity. He noted that after 90 minutes of discussions with White House officials, the group was ushered into the Oval Office for prayer. Grob wrote that he soon began receiving messages of serious concern from congregants who felt he had inadvertently participated in a political event just before the national election.
Joensen stated in an online post that the meeting was arranged by officials from the White House Faith Office to discuss immigration, visas for clergy, and the exploitation of vulnerable persons. He emphasized that none of the participants intended to endorse any political party or individual candidate. Joensen described those who shared the images as having exploited the meeting for partisan purposes.
The timing of the release has intensified scrutiny. A video of the encounter was posted by Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president and communications adviser. Grob stated that none of the participants gave permission for the public distribution of the video or photos. The White House did not directly address the bishops' comments when contacted by the BBC. Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers issued a statement praising the president's record for Catholic Americans.
Polling data suggests the controversy arrives at a sensitive moment for the administration. According to Pew Research Center, Trump's approval rating among US Catholics has dropped to 30%, down from 47% when he returned to the White House in 2025. In the same survey, 42% of Catholics said they preferred Democrats in local House races, compared to 39% who favored Republicans.
This shift in sentiment follows a contentious relationship between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV and the president have clashed over immigration enforcement. Nine days before the Oval Office meeting, Bishop Brendon Cahill and Walter Kim of the National Association of Evangelicals issued a joint statement urging Christian compassion in the immigration debate. They cited the fracturing of families and the sowing of fear as consequences of recent enforcement actions.
Other Catholic figures have also navigated the administration's policies. Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both Catholics, have visited the Vatican during this term. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops recently condemned the administration's plan to livestream a military execution, a proposal that was later scrapped. Archbishops Robert Barron and Timothy Dolan have served on the president's Religious Liberty Commission.
Source: BBC News
