In brief
Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob and Des Moines Bishop William Joensen have publicly said they regret meeting President Donald Trump in the Oval Office when the event was turned into political publicity. The bishops claimed they expected a private discussion about immigration and clergy visas, not a broadcast that could influence the upcoming mid‑term elections. In a statement, Joensen warned the public that the meeting had been misused for partisan ends and called for clearer boundaries between religious leaders and elected officials. The controversy underscores shifting support for Trump among American Catholics and raises questions about the role of faith leaders in the political arena.
Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob and Des Moines Bishop William Joensen have said they regret meeting President Donald Trump at the White House after footage of the bishops praying beside the president was released and interpreted as a political act.
The bishops complained the meeting was intended for a private discussion on immigration and clergy visas, and not to create a public image for the election cycle. Joensen cautioned that the footage had been exploited for partisan purposes and that no participant had agreed to its broadcast. Grob added that he had been told the meeting would remain confidential and that the scheduled prayer session was not designed to influence voters.
Both officials stated that the White House Faith Office arranged the discussion and they were not aware that the event would be recorded and shared to social media by President’s communications aide Margo Martin.
The apology comes as recent surveys show a decline in Trump’s approval among American Catholics, a group historically supportive of the former president. With the 3 November mid‑term elections approaching, the bishops’ statements have added to debate over the intersection of faith and politics in the United States.
