The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said Thursday it had no involvement in a prayer session held in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump, after the White House described the gathering as one that brought together “Catholic bishops and archbishops.”
“This is not something that was organized by the Conference. It is not connected to the Conference. I don’t have any more information,” USCCB spokesperson Chieko Noguchi told AFP.
A 27-Second Video and a White House Claim
The session was publicized by Margo Martin, an adviser to the president, who posted a 27-second video showing Trump seated at his desk, surrounded by clergymen wearing Roman collars. In the footage, one of the religious figures has a hand placed on the president’s shoulder and prays aloud.
“Catholic archbishops and bishops pray with President Trump in the Oval Office,” Martin wrote in her post, adding a heart emoji. A White House source said 13 prelates took part in the moment, including the archbishops of Denver, Milwaukee and Kansas City.
A Recurring Scene, and a Strained Relationship
It is not the first time such a moment has been documented since Trump returned to the presidency. In 2025, on the National Day of Prayer, held each year on the first Thursday of May, the White House released a similar video showing a man kneeling before Trump while representatives of various faiths sang “Amazing Grace.” A year later, the Republican organized a “national prayer” marathon on the National Mall in Washington, next to the White House, partly funded with public money.
Yet relations between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church have been marked by tension. Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly criticized the president’s policy of migrant expulsions.
Contacted by AFP, a White House spokesperson insisted that “there has never been a better president for American Catholics than President Trump.”
What the Disavowal Means
- The USCCB, the national body representing Catholic bishops in the United States, says the Oval Office gathering was neither organized by nor connected to the Conference.
- The White House has described the participants as Catholic bishops and archbishops, and says 13 prelates attended.
- The discrepancy leaves open the question of who organized the session and under whose authority the clergymen took part.
- The episode adds to a broader pattern of friction between the administration and Catholic leaders, particularly over immigration enforcement.
