Faith

Two Catholic bishops say they regret Trump Oval Office meeting

October 26, 2026 • By Press Pass USA

Editorial illustration: clergy members with bowed heads standing around a large wooden desk in a formal office

Editorial illustration — Press Pass USA

Two Catholic bishops have expressed regret over attending a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, saying they felt manipulated after photos and video of clergy praying over the president were released publicly.

The meeting brought together 12 clergy members and the president, and the images released Thursday showed the clergy praying around Trump, who sat with his head bowed at the Oval Office desk. The release came less than two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections.

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee said afterward that the meeting had been manipulated, that he was unaware it was being recorded, and that the bishops did not give permission for the footage and images to be distributed. “To begin, the meeting was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party,” Grob said in a statement. A second bishop said the meeting was exploited for partisan political purposes and expressed regret for attending.

The episode contrasts with the care Pope Leo XIV has taken to keep bishops out of partisan politics. The first American pope has insisted that bishops avoid taking sides in elections, even as he has spoken out on policy questions, including the administration's immigration enforcement and the war in Gaza. The pope's decision not to visit the United States in 2026 was also shaped in part by the midterm elections, as papal visits traditionally do not take place during election cycles.

Sources: CNN (Oct 26, 2026); Archbishop Jeffrey Grob statement.