Bishops Apologize After White House Photos Leak Two Weeks Before Midterms

Two US Catholic bishops have expressed regret over a White House meeting with President Donald Trump, following the public release of images showing them praying with him.

The meeting took place on October 22 in the Oval Office. Photos and video show the bishops standing around the president at the Resolute Desk. The visit was organized by the White House Faith Office to discuss immigration, clergy visas, and the treatment of vulnerable populations.

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, issued statements clarifying their intentions. Grob stated that he believed the encounter was private and not a staged political event. Joensen said the group did not intend to endorse any political party or individual candidate.

Joensen wrote that he wished he had been more shrewd in dealing with those who used the meeting for partisan purposes. He described the event as an exploitation of a religious gathering. Grob added that none of the participants gave permission for the public distribution of the video or photographs.

The images were released by Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president and communications adviser. Martin frequently shares behind-the-scenes content of the president on social media. The release occurred less than two weeks before the national election.

Grob noted that he received messages from congregants concerned about his participation in a political event so close to the vote. He also heard from parishioners who felt wounded by the president's policies. These comments reflected a shift in public opinion among Catholic voters.

According to a Pew Research Center survey released this month, 30% of US Catholics approved of Trump's job performance. This figure dropped from 47% when he returned to the White House in 2025. The survey indicates a potential impact on the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress.

In the same poll, 42% of Catholics said they preferred Democratic candidates in their local House of Representatives races. That was a 3-point lead over the 39% who favored Republicans. The White House did not directly address the bishops' comments when contacted by the BBC. Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers maintained that Trump has a strong record for Catholic Americans.

The administration's relationship with the Catholic Church has been tense during Trump's second term. Pope Leo XIV has a contentious dynamic with the president, who has pushed aggressive immigration enforcement. Last month, bishops also condemned the administration's plan to livestream a military execution, a proposal that was later scrapped.