US Bishops Regret Oval Office Prayer Session With Trump

Two US Catholic bishops expressed regret over a recent White House meeting with President Donald Trump after images of the prayer session were made public.

Photos and video from the October 22 gathering show the religious leaders standing around the President at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. The visual record prompted questions about the political timing of the event.

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee stated that he believed the encounter was private and not intended as a political photo opportunity. He noted that the group spent 90 minutes in meetings with officials before being ushered into the Oval Office to pray. Grob said he began receiving messages from congregants who worried he had participated in a political event less than two weeks before a national election. Some parishioners also reported feeling wounded by the President's policies.

Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, said the meeting was arranged by White House Faith Office staff to discuss immigration and visas for international clergy. Joensen stated that none of the participants intended to endorse any political party or individual candidate. He added that he wished he had been more shrewd in dealing with those who exploited the meeting for partisan purposes.

The visual content was released by Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president and communications adviser. Martin frequently shares behind-the-scenes images of the President on social media. Grob said that none of the participants gave permission for the public distribution of the video or photos.

The White House did not directly address questions regarding the meeting or the bishops' comments. Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers issued a statement praising the President's record for Catholic Americans.

Pew Research Center data from this month indicates that 30% of US Catholics currently approve of the President's job performance, down from 47% when he returned to the White House in 2025. In local House of Representatives races, 42% of surveyed Catholics prefer Democratic candidates, while 39% favor Republicans. The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3.

The President has maintained a contentious relationship with Pope Leo XIV during his second term, particularly regarding immigration enforcement. Both Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who are Catholic, have visited the Vatican this term. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops also recently condemned plans to livestream a military execution, a plan that was later scrapped.