The White House defended President Donald Trump on Monday after Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob apologized for joining an Oval Office prayer and accused the administration of using the religious gathering for political purposes shortly before the midterm elections, as reported by Fox News.

Grob released a statement Sunday titled “A Public Apology,” claiming the White House distributed photographs and video from the Thursday gathering without the consent of the 12 participating bishops.

He said the administration had manipulated what the religious leaders viewed as a sacred moment.

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The archbishop said Catholics had contacted him with concerns that the prayer appeared to be a political endorsement. Grob acknowledged that he had reservations before attending and apologized for the distress caused by his participation.

“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,” Grob 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,” he added.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers responded by defending Trump’s record on religious liberty and issues important to Catholics. Her statement to Fox News Digital followed Grob’s public apology over the prayer gathering.

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“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,” Rogers said.

Grob said the Heritage Foundation arranged the meeting, which focused on immigration enforcement, religious worker visas and other Catholic priorities. The bishops first participated in a discussion lasting 90 minutes with White House domestic policy staff and advisors.

The bishops then entered the Oval Office, where Trump gave them commemorative tokens before joining them in prayer. Grob said the group did not know that video of the prayer was being recorded.

Des Moines Bishop William Joensen also criticized the publicity that followed the meeting. In a statement published Saturday, he said the bishops had not intended to endorse a candidate or political party.

“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,” Joensen said.

Joensen said he should have been more mindful of Jesus’ admonition in Matthew 10:16. He added, “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 participation during an interview with the Denver Catholic. Golka acknowledged concerns about the video’s political implications while emphasizing that Catholics have a longstanding practice of praying for elected officials.

“I wasn’t sure what to do. On one hand, it was a great opportunity to raise important issues for the Church’s benefit,” Golka 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,” he continued.

Golka said prayer ultimately guided his decision to participate. “But as I prayed about it, I thought that this is what Catholics do,” he said. “We pray for people. No matter whether we agree or disagree on anything, we always pray for our country and leaders.”

The dispute emerged amid disagreements between Catholic leaders and the Trump administration, particularly over immigration policy. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sued the administration in February 2025 over its suspension of refugee resettlement funding.

Other prominent Catholic leaders have urged continued engagement with the administration. Bishop Robert Barron, a member of Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, told Fox News Digital in May that the church should avoid demonizing Trump despite policy disputes.

“What I don't want from the church is a kind of demonization of the Trump administration,” Barron said. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee declined to provide additional comment when contacted by Fox News Digital.

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