Archbishop Jeffrey Grob’s statement, titled "A Public Apology," appeared on the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s website on Sunday. He asserted that the White House had released photographs and video of the October 22 prayer without the consent of the 12 bishops who attended, and accused the administration of turning a sacred moment into a partisan photo‑op.
Taylor Rogers, the White House spokeswoman, countered the criticism in a Fox News Digital interview, noting that President Trump has a strong record on religious freedom. She cited the administration’s recent pardons for anti‑abortion activists and its stance on parental rights as evidence of its commitment to Catholic interests.
Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines weighed in, stating that the bishops were unaware of the public distribution of the footage and that the gathering was not intended to endorse any candidate or party. Meanwhile, Archbishop James Golka of Denver defended the decision to pray with Trump, arguing that Catholics routinely pray for elected officials regardless of political disagreement.
The controversy comes amid a broader clash between Catholic leaders and the Trump administration over immigration policy. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sued the administration in February 2025 over the suspension of refugee‑resettlement funding, and Wisconsin bishops earlier this year issued statements criticizing the administration’s treatment of immigrants.
In the midst of the looming November 3 midterm elections, the incident has prompted calls for greater transparency around religious gatherings held by the White House. A local Milwaukee family, whose son is a refugee from Central America, expressed relief that the church is advocating for immigrant rights while also cautioning that political optics can undermine the mission of faith communities.