Bishops apologize after White House posts Oval Office prayer video

Two Catholic bishops have publicly expressed regret over a prayer session with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. The White House released video and photos of the event on social media less than two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. The posts captioned the scene as Catholic archbishops and bishops praying with the US president. Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines issued separate statements this weekend acknowledging the political timing of the encounter.

The meeting took place on Thursday, October 22. Twelve bishops attended a discussion with administration officials. Archbishop Grob stated that the Heritage Foundation arranged the gathering. Participants were told the session would be private and cover immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, and human dignity. After spending 90 minutes with domestic policy staff, the group moved to the Oval Office. Grob said they were handed commemorative tokens and directed to stand behind the president's desk to pray. He noted that nobody informed them a video was being recorded and that they did not agree to its release.

Bishop Joensen added that officials from the White House Faith Office extended the invitation. The agenda also included fertility treatment incentives, abortion-inducing drugs, and tax credits for private schools. He stated that while the bishops knew the meeting occurred close to an election, none intended to endorse a specific party or candidate. Joensen wrote that he wished he had been more shrewd and less simple compared to those who used the meeting for partisan purposes.

Archbishop Grob described the situation as a source of heavy sadness. He said he had heard from people who were alarmed that he had joined a political event on the eve of a national vote. He noted that some were hurt by the impact of the administration's policies on their families. Grob wrote that the White House should never have put the bishops in that position and admitted he had harbored reservations about the meeting.

Other participants have also weighed in. Archbishop James Golka of Denver told his archdiocese's publication that he was heartbroken that people were hurt. He maintained that it was never his intention to signal an endorsement. Bishop Scott Bullock of Rapid City told the National Catholic Reporter that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was not unaware of the meeting. A Heritage Foundation representative had invited Bullock to the session.

The incident follows a series of actions by the administration linking Christian prayer with government functions. President Trump created a White House Faith Office by executive order in February 2025. In the same month, a Justice Department taskforce was established to address anti-Christian bias in federal agencies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has held Christian worship services at the Pentagon. In March, he prayed for overwhelming violence against those who deserve no mercy during the Iran war.

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, who serves as president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, has urged Catholics to prioritize faith over politics before the vote. The bishops are scheduled to hold their annual fall assembly in Baltimore in November. This gathering will take place approximately two weeks after the election. Grob ended his public apology with words of sincere regret, describing the bishops as a pilgrim people.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the specific timing of the video release. The footage remains posted on the administration's official social media channels. The next scheduled public event for the bishops is the fall assembly in Baltimore, where they will convene to discuss national issues.