Bishops Regret Oval Office Photo Op With Trump Ahead of Midterms

Archbishops Jeffrey Grob and William Joensen expressed regret over their recent meeting with President Donald Trump, a visit that became a political flashpoint after photos of the pair praying with the president were released online. The images, taken in the Oval Office, show the religious leaders standing around the Resolute Desk, a visual that many voters interpreted as a partisan endorsement just days before the midterm election.

The meeting occurred on 22 October. Bishop Joensen, who serves in Des Moines, Iowa, stated that White House Faith Office officials arranged the visit to discuss immigration, clergy visas, and the treatment of vulnerable populations. He clarified that none of the bishops intended to support any specific party or candidate. Joensen criticized those who used the event for political gain, writing that he wished he had been more shrewd in avoiding what he described as the exploitation of the meeting for partisan purposes.

Archbishop Grob of Milwaukee detailed the sequence of events, noting that the bishops spent 90 minutes in separate meetings with officials before being brought into the Oval Office for a prayer session. He said he believed the gathering was private and not a staged photo opportunity. After the images circulated, Grob began receiving messages from congregants who felt wounded by the president’s policies or concerned that he had inadvertently participated in a political event. Grob emphasized that no participant granted permission for the public distribution of the video or photos.

The footage was released by Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president and communications adviser who frequently shares behind-the-scenes content on social media. When contacted by the BBC, the White House did not directly address the bishops’ comments on the meeting’s nature. However, White House Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers issued a statement asserting that there has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than Trump, citing his strong record.

The controversy arises against a backdrop of declining support for the president among Catholic voters. A Pew Research Center survey conducted this month found that 30% of US Catholics approve of Trump’s job performance, a drop from the 47% who approved when he returned to the White House in 2025. This shift may influence the 3 November elections, where control of Congress is at stake. In the same survey, 42% of Catholics said they preferred the Democratic candidates in their local House races, while 39% favored the Republicans.

Tensions between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church have persisted throughout the president’s second term, particularly regarding immigration enforcement. Pope Leo XIV and Trump have maintained a contentious relationship. Nine days before the Oval Office meeting, Bishop Brendon Cahill and Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, issued a joint statement urging Christian compassion in the immigration debate. They argued that the administration's clampdown had sown fear, fractured families, and deprived people of due process.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has also recently criticized the administration, condemning a plan to livestream a military execution that was later withdrawn. Despite these conflicts, high-ranking officials and church leaders continue to interact. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both Catholics, have visited the Vatican during this term. Additionally, Robert Barron of Minnesota and former New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan agreed to serve on the president’s Religious Liberty Commission last year.