The White House on Monday defended President Donald Trump after Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob apologized for taking part in an Oval Office prayer, saying the administration had used the religious gathering for political purposes less than two weeks before the midterm elections.
In a statement released Sunday under the headline “A Public Apology,” Grob alleged that the White House shared photographs and video from Thursday’s prayer without obtaining permission from the 12 bishops who attended. He said the administration had exploited what was intended to be a sacred moment.
Grob said Catholics had contacted him with concerns that the gathering appeared to signal political support. He acknowledged that he had reservations before attending and apologized for the distress his participation caused.
“I feel a heavy sadness, not only over the pain I caused, but also for the fact that something so sacred to a group of religious leaders, prayer to our Heavenly Father, would be manipulated in that way,” he said.
“We came in good faith to try to work for the betterment of our fellow human beings, to ease their suffering, to build up the common good, and to pray with a president, not to pose for a political photo opportunity to benefit the few.”
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers responded to Grob’s apology by highlighting Trump’s record on religious liberty and issues important to Catholic Americans in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it: he stopped the weaponization of the federal government against Christians, proudly defended and expanded our religious rights, pardoned pro-life activists, stopped the chemical mutilation of our nation’s children, and protected parents’ rights,” she said.
The meeting was organized by the Heritage Foundation and focused on immigration enforcement, religious worker visas and other Catholic priorities, according to Grob.
After a 90-minute session with White House domestic policy staff and advisers, the bishops went to the Oval Office. Trump presented them with commemorative tokens before joining them in prayer. Grob said the bishops did not know the event was being recorded.
Des Moines Bishop William Joensen likewise objected to the way the gathering was publicized in a statement published Saturday. He said the bishops had not intended to endorse a candidate or political party.
MORE STORY: Trump Blasts Senate Over Daylight Saving Time, Jokes It Makes Him Late
“None of us bishops were unaware that our meeting was on the cusp of a national election. Yet in no way did any of us intend by our involvement to endorse any political party or any individual candidate,” he said.
“That said, in retrospect, I would have done well to be more mindful of Jesus’ admonition: ‘Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves’ (Matthew 10:16). I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes.”
Denver Archbishop James Golka, who led the prayer, addressed his involvement in an interview with the Denver Catholic. While recognizing the concerns surrounding the video’s political implications, Golka said praying for elected officials is a longstanding Catholic practice.
“I wasn’t sure what to do. On one hand, it was a great opportunity to raise important issues for the Church’s benefit,” he said. “On the other hand, I knew people might be upset. Though I originally thought it would be a private meeting, I knew that it could be shared and that some might use it for political purposes.”
“But as I prayed about it, I thought that this is what Catholics do,” he continued. “We pray for people. No matter whether we agree or disagree on anything, we always pray for our country and leaders.”
The dispute comes as Catholic leaders remain divided over several Trump administration policies, particularly its approach to immigration.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops sued the administration in February 2025 after refugee resettlement funding was suspended.
At the same time, other prominent Catholic figures have advocated continued dialogue with the administration. In a May interview with Fox News Digital, Bishop Robert Barron, who serves on Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, warned against demonizing the president despite disagreements over immigration and other issues.
“What I don’t want from the church is a kind of demonization of the Trump administration,” he said.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee declined to provide further comment when contacted by Fox News Digital.
KEEP READING: Hairdresser Michaela, 32, Battles Rare Deadly Sinus Cancer
