Why Catholic Bishops Are Apologizing Over 'Exploited' Trump Meeting
" I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes," said one bishop after the Oval Office gathering.
President Donald Trump met with 12 Catholic bishops at the White House on October 22, 2024, for a private discussion on issues like immigration enforcement and religious worker visas. However, a video of the meeting, including a moment of prayer, was taken without the bishops' consent and subsequently posted online, sparking controversy.
Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee expressed deep regret over the meeting, claiming it was used as a "political photo opportunity" less than two weeks before the midterm elections. He emphasized that the meeting was intended to be private and not an endorsement of Trump's policies or party. Other bishops, including William Joensen of Des Moines and James Golka of Denver, also claimed the meeting was "exploited" for political purposes, asserting they attended to discuss policy matters and to pray, not to endorse candidates.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) distanced itself from the gathering, stating it was not organized or affiliated with the organization. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the meeting, stating it was "policy in action ending with meaningful prayer." The controversy comes as Trump's approval rating among Catholics has decreased to 30%, compared to 47% when he first returned to the White House in January 2025.
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