Trump White House prayer meeting sparks public rebuke from archbishop: 'A heavy sadness'

A recent video of a group of archbishops and bishops praying over President Donald Trump sparked a rare public rebuke from one of the participating religious leaders.

Last week, the "Trump War Room" account on X posted a video of the prayer meeting, which the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops described as an attempt to "attempt to hijack the message" of the organization. Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob, archbishop of Milwaukee, one of the participating religious leaders, wrote in a public letter published Sunday that the Trump White House did not let them know that they were going to publicize the event.

"Over the past several days, I have received many questions and comments about the October 22 meeting I and 11 other bishops attended at the White House, which was soon thereafter publicized by the administration without the consent of the participants," Grob wrote. "Please know that my intention was never to cause confusion, anger, or disappointment among the people entrusted to my care."

Grob added that it seemed like a clear attempt by the White House to make it seem like the archbishops and bishops were inadvertently participating in a political event.

"The president greeted us, took a seat at his desk and presented us with commemorative tokens," Grob explained. "We were then directed to stand behind him and pray. After which several photos were taken, and we were ushered out. Unbeknownst to the group of bishops, a video was also taken. But permission for the public distribution or posting of either the video or photos was not given by the bishops."

Grob added that the event left him feeling a "heavy sadness" for 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. 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. We should never have been put in that position by the White House. I did not go without reservations. I wish I had heeded them.