Catholic Archbishops and Bishops pray with President Trump in the Oval Office.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops sued the administration in February 2025 over the suspension of refugee resettlement funding. Earlier reporting noted: On Sunday, Grob released a statement entitled ‘A Public Apology’, in which he contended that the White House had distributed pictures and video footage of the Thursday prayer service without seeking authorization from the 12 bishops who participated.
Earlier reporting noted: Archbishop Grob said that the administration had leveraged the religious event for political advantage just before the midterm elections. The controversy comes amid disagreements between Catholic leaders and the Trump administration over immigration policy. Other Catholic leaders have urged continued engagement with the administration despite policy differences. Bishop Robert Barron, a member of Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, cautioned against demonising the president in a May interview with Fox News Digital. He alleged that the administration had exploited a sacred occasion for political purposes.
Grob had also joined other Wisconsin bishops earlier this year in issuing a statement criticising the administration’s treatment of immigrants. Earlier reporting noted: White House defends Trump amid accusations of ‘manipulating’ Catholic bishops for political gain The White House defended President Donald Trump on Monday following Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob’s public apology for his involvement in an Oval Office prayer session with the president.
The White House has defended US President Donald Trump after Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob apologised for participating in an Oval Office prayer with the president, accusing the administration of turning the religious gathering into a political photo opportunity less than two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections.
Grob, in a statement titled “A Public Apology” published on the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s website on Sunday, said the White House had distributed photographs and video of the October 22 meeting without the consent of the 12 participating bishops. The archbishop said he had received messages from Catholics concerned that his participation could be interpreted as an endorsement of Trump or his administration. “There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it,” Rogers said, citing the administration’s actions on religious liberty, pardons for anti-abortion activists and parental rights. Grob said the bishops had been informed that there would be an opportunity to pray with the president, but were unaware that a video was being recorded and had not given permission for the footage or photographs to be publicly distributed.
He accused the administration of manipulating a sacred moment for partisan political purposes. He expressed regret over the distress caused by his involvement, adding that he had reservations about attending the meeting but wished he had given them greater consideration. After a discussion with White House officials and advisers, the bishops entered the Oval Office, where Trump presented commemorative tokens before praying with them.