30%: Trump's Catholic Approval Slides as Bishops Regret Oval Office Prayer

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, expressed regret over a recent meeting with President Donald Trump after images of the session became public. The pair stood around the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office on October 22, a scene captured by Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president. Martin, who frequently shares behind-the-scenes media of the administration, released the video without stated consent from the religious leaders.

Grob stated that he believed the visit was a private affair and not a political photo opportunity. After spending 90 minutes in meetings with White House officials, the bishops were brought into the Oval Office for a prayer session. Grob noted that he received messages of serious concern from congregants who felt he had inadvertently participated in a political event less than two weeks before a national election. He added that some parishioners felt wounded by the president's policies, particularly regarding immigration.

Joensen clarified in an online statement that the meeting was arranged by the White House Faith Office to discuss immigration, visas for international clergy, and the exploitation of vulnerable poor persons. He emphasized that no participant intended to endorse a political party or candidate. Joensen described those who used the meeting for partisan purposes as exploiters, saying he wished he had been more shrewd and less simple.

The timing of the disclosure aligns with shifting political dynamics. Pew Research Center data released this month indicates that 30% of US Catholics now approve of Trump's job performance. This figure represents a decline from the 47% approval rating recorded when he returned to the White House in 2025. The survey also found that 42% of Catholics prefer Democratic candidates in local House of Representatives races, compared to 39% who favor Republicans. These races will determine control of Congress in the November 3 midterms.

The White House did not directly address the bishops' comments when contacted for comment. Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers issued a statement asserting that Trump has never had a greater president for Catholic Americans. She pointed to his strong record as proof of that support. The administration's relationship with the Catholic Church remains complex. Pope Leo XIV and Trump have maintained a contentious relationship, while the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has criticized the administration's immigration enforcement and recently scrapped plans to livestream a military execution.

Other religious leaders have weighed in on the political climate. Bishop Brendon Cahill and Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, issued a statement nine days before the Oval Office meeting. They urged Christian compassion and wisdom in the immigration debate, citing the sowing of fear and the fracturing of families. Within the Catholic hierarchy, figures such as Robert Barron of Minnesota and former New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan have served on the president's Religious Liberty Commission during his second term.