US Catholic Bishops Conference Denies Link to Trump Oval Office Prayer Event
“We did not organize this event, and it has no relation to the conference. I have no additional information,” Chico Noguchi, a spokesperson for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, told Agence France-Presse.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops distanced itself on October 23, 2026, from a video showing several Catholic leaders praying over President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Margo Martin, an assistant to the U.S. President, published the footage on Thursday, October 22, 2026, on the social media platform X.
The Oval Office Prayer Video and White House Confirmation
The video depicts President Trump seated at his desk while a group of clergymen stand around him. One cleric places a hand on the president’s shoulder while praying aloud. Margo Martin captioned the post, “Archbishops and Catholic bishops praying with President Trump in the Oval Office,” accompanied by a heart emoji.
Catholic Archbishops and Bishops pray with President Trump in the Oval Office ❤️ pic.twitter.com/facV5wTGQQ
Following the online circulation of the clip, the White House confirmed to Agence France-Presse that President Trump met with approximately 12 Catholic leaders. The delegation included the archbishops of Denver, Milwaukee, and Kansas City.
Catholic Leadership Clarifies Administrative Distance from Gathering
The national Catholic leadership moved quickly to clarify its administrative distance from the gathering.
Despite the lack of formal organizational backing from the bishops’ conference, individual prelates participated directly.
Trump Administration Maintains Friction with Catholic Church
Relations between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church have experienced friction, most notably over federal immigration enforcement and deportation policies. During his recent electoral campaign, President Trump secured strong backing from the Christian right.
The White House gathering mirrors previous engagements in which the president met with religious figures who offered public prayers and blessings. Similar meetings occurred during past election cycles and terms, including gatherings involving pastors from the evangelical tradition.