Bishops Apologize After Oval Office Prayer Photos Leak
Archbishops Grob and Joensen say they did not intend a political endorsement, but the timing of the release ahead of the election has drawn criticism from their own congregants.
By Nikhil Petrov ·
Two U.S. Catholic bishops are publicly regretting their recent meeting with President Donald Trump after a video of the visit surfaced online. The footage shows the religious leaders standing around the president at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
The meeting took place on October 22. Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee said he understood the gathering to be private and not a setup for political photography. He noted that he began receiving messages from parishioners expressing concern that he had inadvertently joined a political event less than two weeks before the national election.
Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, issued a statement explaining that White House Faith Office officials arranged the session. They discussed immigration, visas for international clergy, and the treatment of vulnerable poor persons. Joensen stated that the group never intended to endorse any political party or candidate. He added that he wished he had been more shrewd in handling the situation, noting that others exploited the meeting for partisan purposes.
Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president and communications adviser, released the video. She frequently shares behind-the-scenes content of Trump on social media. Grob stated that none of the participants gave permission for the public distribution of the photos or video.
The White House did not directly address the bishops' comments when contacted for a reaction. Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement that Trump has been the greatest president for Catholic Americans, citing his strong record.
Public opinion on Trump among Catholic voters has shifted during his second term. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 30% of U.S. Catholics currently approve of his job performance. That is down from 47% when he returned to the White House in 2025. The drop could influence the November 3 midterm elections.
In the same survey, 42% of Catholics said they preferred the Democratic candidates running in their local House of Representatives races. That figure is slightly higher than the 39% who favored Republicans. The tension between the administration and the church has grown since Trump took office, particularly regarding immigration enforcement.
Source: BBC News
