Catholic leaders apologize for White House prayer session as voter support dips

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob and Des Moines Bishop William Joensen expressed regret on Sunday over a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. The two religious leaders apologized after photos and video of the 22 October visit were released, sparking debate over whether they were signaling political support nine days before the 3 November midterm elections.

The images show the bishops standing around Trump at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. Grob stated he believed the visit was private and not a political photo opportunity. He noted that he began receiving messages of concern from congregants who feared he had inadvertently participated in a political event. Grob added that he heard from parishioners who felt wounded by the president's policies, particularly regarding immigration.

Joensen said the meeting was organized by the White House Faith Office to discuss immigration, visas for international clergy, and the exploitation of vulnerable poor persons. In a statement, he clarified that no participant intended to endorse a specific party or candidate. He described himself as less shrewd than those who used the meeting for partisan purposes.

The video of the session was released by Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president and communications adviser. Grob confirmed that none of the participants gave permission for the public distribution of the visual content. When asked about the controversy, White House Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers did not directly address the bishops' comments. She stated in a statement that Trump has never had a greater president for Catholic Americans and that his record proves it.

The timing of the apology coincides with shifting voter sentiment. A Pew Research Center survey released this month found that 30% of US Catholics approve of Trump's job performance. That figure is down from 47% when he took office in 2025. In the same survey, 42% of Catholics said they preferred Democratic candidates in their local House of Representatives races, while 39% favored Republicans.

The tension between the administration and the Catholic Church has persisted since Trump returned to the White House. His relationship with Pope Leo XIV has been contentious, particularly regarding aggressive immigration enforcement. Other church leaders have also voiced criticism, including a joint statement by Bishop Brendon Cahill and Walter Kim urging compassion in the immigration debate. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops recently condemned the administration's scrapped plan to livestream a military execution.