Bishops Regret Oval Office Visit

US Catholic bishops Jeffrey Grob and William Joensen expressed regret over a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. The two religious leaders said they believed the session was private and not a political event. Their comments followed the release of photos and video showing them praying with the president.

The meeting occurred on October 22. Images captured the bishops standing around the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president, posted the footage on social media. Grob stated that none of the participants gave permission for the public distribution of the media. He noted that he had spent 90 minutes with officials before entering the Oval Office to pray.

Joensen explained that White House Faith Office officials arranged the visit. The group discussed immigration, visas for international clergy, and the exploitation of vulnerable persons. He stated that the group did not intend to endorse any political party or individual candidate. He wished he had been more shrewd than the people who used the meeting for partisan purposes.

Grob said he received messages of concern from congregants after the images surfaced. Some felt wounded by the president's policies, which have affected their families. He wrote that he feared participating in a political event shortly before a national election. The White House did not directly address the bishops' comments. Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement that Trump has a strong record for Catholic Americans.

The political alignment of Catholic voters has shifted. A Pew Research Center survey conducted this month found that 30% of US Catholics approve of Trump's job performance. That number was 47% when he returned to the White House in 2025. In local House races, 42% of Catholics preferred Democratic candidates, while 39% favored Republicans. These figures may influence the midterm elections scheduled for November 3.

Tensions exist between the Trump administration and the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV has a contentious relationship with the president. The administration has moved aggressively to remove people believed to be in the country illegally. In late September, Bishop Brendon Cahill and Walter Kim of the National Association of Evangelicals issued a statement urging Christian compassion in the immigration debate. They said the clampdown has sown fear and fractured families.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops also criticized the administration's plan to livestream a military execution. That plan was later scrapped. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both Catholics, have visited the Vatican during this term. Bishop Robert Barron of Minnesota and former Archbishop Timothy Dolan serve on the president's Religious Liberty Commission.