Catholic bishops regret White House prayer photo with Trump, say it was used politically

Two Catholic bishops have issued expressions of regret regarding a recent White House meeting with President Donald Trump. The controversy centers on a photograph taken during the meeting that depicts the bishops praying with the president, an image that was subsequently distributed publicly. The bishops have stated that the photograph was used for political purposes, prompting a formal apology from at least one of the participants.

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob released a statement titled “A Public Apology” on Sunday to address his involvement in the event. The bishops’ public distancing from the imagery highlights the tension between religious leadership and political optics, specifically regarding how private prayer sessions may be leveraged by political figures for public messaging.