Trump's Catholic approval falls to 30% as bishops apologize for Oval Office prayer

Archbishops Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and William Joensen of Des Moines have publicly regretted their meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. The pair issued apologies after video and photographs of the 22 October session were released, prompting questions about whether the bishops were signaling political support two weeks before the midterm elections.

The images show the religious leaders standing around Trump at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. Grob stated that he believed the gathering was private and not a political photo opportunity. He explained that after 90 minutes of discussions with officials, the group was ushered in to pray. None of the participants gave permission for the public distribution of the media, according to Grob.

Bishop Joensen, in a statement posted online, clarified that the White House Faith Office arranged the meeting to discuss immigration, visas for international clergy, and the exploitation of vulnerable populations. "In no way did any of us intend by our involvement to endorse any political party or any individual candidate," Joensen wrote. He added, "I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes."

The release of the footage came from Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president. Grob noted that he received messages from congregants expressing concern over his potential participation in a political event. He also heard from individuals who felt wounded by the president's policies. The White House did not directly address the bishops' comments but defended Trump's record with Catholic Americans.

White House Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement, "There has never been a greater president for Catholic Americans than President Trump, and his strong record proves it." This defense comes as polling data shows a decline in support. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 30% of US Catholics approve of Trump's job performance. This is down from 47% when he returned to the White House in 2025.

The drop in approval ratings could influence the 3 November elections, which will determine control of Congress. The same survey indicated that 42% of Catholics preferred Democratic candidates for local House races, compared to 39% who favored Republicans. Tensions between the administration and the Vatican have also risen, with Pope Leo XIV and Trump having a contentious relationship over immigration enforcement.

Other church leaders have weighed in on immigration policy recently. Bishop Brendon Cahill and Walter Kim of the National Association of Evangelicals issued a statement nine days before the Oval Office meeting. They urged Christian compassion in the debate, noting that the clampdown has led to the fracturing of families and the deprivation of due process. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops also recently condemned the administration's scrapped plan to livestream a military execution.