US Bishops Grob and Joensen Regret Oval Office Visit

Archbishops Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and William Joensen of Des Moines have expressed regret over their recent visit to the White House. The apology follows the public release of images showing the religious leaders praying with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The incident has raised questions about the political implications of the meeting ahead of the 3 November midterm elections.

The visit took place on 22 October. According to Bishop Joensen, the meeting was organized by the White House Faith Office. The agenda included discussions on immigration, visas for international clergy, and the treatment of vulnerable populations. Joensen stated that the group did not intend to endorse any political party or candidate. He described those who used the meeting for partisan purposes as having exploited the event.

Archbishop Grob said he believed the session was private. He noted that the group spent 90 minutes with officials before entering the Oval Office to pray. Grob explained that he began receiving messages of concern from congregants after the images surfaced. Some parishioners felt the visit looked like a political event occurring less than two weeks before a national election. Others expressed hurt over the impact of the president's policies on their families.

The White House released the video through Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president. Martin is known for sharing behind-the-scenes content of Trump on social media. Grob stated that none of the participants granted permission for the public distribution of the photos or video. When contacted by the BBC, the White House did not directly address the bishops' comments. White House Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers issued a statement praising Trump. She said there has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans.

The controversy comes as Trump's approval ratings among Catholic voters have declined. A survey by the Pew Research Center this month found that 30% of US Catholics approve of his job performance. This is a drop from 47% when he returned to the White House in 2025. The shift could influence the 3 November elections, which will determine control of Congress. In the same survey, 42% of Catholics preferred the Democratic candidates in their local House races, compared to 39% who favored Republicans.

Tensions between the administration and the Catholic Church have been visible during Trump's second term. The president has maintained a contentious relationship with Pope Leo XIV. This friction has coincided with aggressive immigration enforcement. Nine days before the Oval Office meeting, Bishop Brendon Cahill and Walter Kim of the National Association of Evangelicals issued a statement on immigration. They argued that the current clampdown sows fear and fractures families. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops also recently criticized the administration's plan to livestream a military execution, a plan that was later scrapped.

The relationship between the White House and the Church is not entirely adversarial. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are both Catholics. Both officials have visited the Vatican during the current term. Additionally, some senior Catholic figures serve in advisory roles. Robert Barron of Minnesota and former New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan joined the president's Religious Liberty Commission last year. Their participation suggests a continued channel of communication between the administration and the church hierarchy.

The release of the photos has intensified scrutiny on the bishops' public appearances. Grob and Joensen have emphasized their intent to discuss policy rather than signal political support. The timing of the release, just before the election, has led to a reassessment of the visit by the two archbishops. Their statements focus on the surprise of the public disclosure and the subsequent reaction from their respective communities.