Politics
Two Catholic bishops apologise over Oval Office prayer with Trump
October 26, 2026 at 05:29 PM
Coverage
3 reports · 1 in Arabic, 2 in English · over 2 hours
BNBBC News
Catholic bishops apologise for 'exploited' Trump meeting
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Catholic bishops accuse Trump White House of turning prayer into campaign photo op
(opens the publisher’s site)
يواليوم السابع
أسقفان كاثوليكيان يعتذران علنًا بعد صلاتهما مع ترامب بالبيت الأبيض.. ما القصة؟
(opens the publisher’s site)Two Catholic bishops have publicly apologized for joining Donald Trump in an Oval Office prayer they say the White House turned into a campaign photo opportunity.
- Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob and Des Moines Bishop William Joensen issued public apologies over the 22 October meeting, attended by 12 bishops.
- Grob said the Heritage Foundation arranged the meeting as a private discussion of immigration and visas, and participants never approved the release of photos or video.
- Joensen said no participant intended to endorse a party or candidate, adding he wished he had been "more shrewd and less simple."
- White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said there has "never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump."