Des Moines Bishop Says White House Used Visit for Politics

A meeting between President Donald Trump and Catholic bishops has drawn criticism from Bishop William Joensen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, who says the White House used the gathering for partisan political purposes. The controversy emerged less than two weeks before the 2026 midterm elections, after early voting had begun in Iowa and other states.

Joensen said the bishops did not intend to endorse any political party and had expected a private discussion. Several bishops who attended the meeting also said they were unaware beforehand that it would be photographed or recorded.

According to Joensen, the invitation, extended in mid-September, offered an opportunity to discuss policy matters affecting the Catholic Church. Topics included immigration, visas for international clergy, federal tax credits supporting private education, and the promotion of a culture of life alongside concerns about access to abortion medications.

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee described the sequence of events surrounding the meeting. The bishops first met with White House staff members and advisers before entering the Oval Office, where Trump greeted them and presented commemorative tokens.

Grob said the bishops were directed to stand behind Trump and pray while staff members took photographs. The group was then escorted out of the room.

Joensen said the prayer asked God to guide Trump's heart and encourage leadership consistent with the dignity of the presidency.

A video showing the prayer was subsequently published on the official White House social media account of a Trump adviser. Grob said the video was released without the bishops' consent.

Joensen also criticized actions taken by the administration, saying they conflicted with Catholic teaching. Reflecting on the meeting, he compared the experience to a passage in the Gospel of Matthew that describes being among wolves as sheep.

In his statement, Joensen expressed regret over how he approached the invitation and said he wanted to exercise greater caution in future engagements with political leaders.

"I wish I had been more shrewd and less simple, like those who exploited our meeting for partisan political purposes. I pray I am more prudent and wise going forward, even as I remain resolute in my openness to engaging and praying for political leaders at all levels," Joensen said.

The bishop's criticism follows his earlier public comments on political participation. In a video posted to the Iowa Catholic Conference and Des Moines Diocese Facebook pages on the day of the White House visit, he advised Catholics that neither major political party fully represents Catholic values.

Joensen encouraged Catholic voters to evaluate candidates based on their character, policies, and outcomes rather than voting out of habit or emotion.

Iowa's four Catholic bishops have also previously described immigration as a moral issue and expressed support for migrants. They criticized the Trump administration and called for an end to immigration enforcement policies they characterized as inhumane.