Politics
Milwaukee archbishop says Oval Office prayer video was shared without bishops’ consent
Archbishop Jeffrey Grob said a private prayer with President Donald Trump was recorded and publicized without the bishops’ knowledge or permission. He and other Catholic leaders have sought to make clear the gathering was not an endorsement of Trump or his political agenda.
Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob said a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House was presented publicly in a way the participating bishops had not agreed to, after a presidential aide posted video of them praying over Trump in the Oval Office.
In a public apology posted Sunday, Oct. 25, Grob said he and 11 other bishops had been invited to discuss policy and pray privately with the president. He said they were instead directed to stand behind Trump’s desk while they prayed, and that the moment was recorded and shared without their knowledge or consent.
“The meeting was in no way an endorsement of the president, his policies, or his party,” Grob wrote.
Margo Martin, a special assistant to Trump and communications adviser, posted the video to X on Oct. 22. The post drew criticism privately and on social media, and Grob’s statement was among several public efforts by Catholic leaders to distance the gathering from an endorsement of the administration ahead of the midterm elections.
The episode highlights the political implications of images involving religious leaders and elected officials: a private act of prayer, once made public by the White House, can be interpreted as a show of support even when participants say that was not their intent.