Catholic bishops say White House exploited prayer meeting with Trump ahead of midterms
Two Catholic bishops have apologized after photos and video of them praying with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office were released less than two weeks before the November midterm elections, saying the meeting was exploited for political purposes, CNN reported.
The footage, released Thursday, showed 12 Catholic clergy members standing around Trump as he sat at his desk with his head bowed.
Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee said he had not known the meeting was being recorded and that the bishops had not authorized the public distribution of the images.
"The meeting was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party," Grob said in a statement.
He said the footage prompted messages from people concerned that he had inadvertently participated in a political event so close to the election.
"I did not go without reservations. I wish I had heeded them," he said, apologizing for any harm his participation had caused.
Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines also said the meeting had been "exploited" for "partisan political purposes."
"I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple," Joensen said, adding that he remained willing to engage with and pray for political leaders regardless of their position.
The controversy comes as Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has urged Catholic bishops to avoid partisan politics, while publicly addressing issues including US immigration policy and the war in Iran.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers did not answer CNN's question about whether the clergy had approved the release of their images.
Instead, she defended Trump's record, saying: "There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump."
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