Bishop William Joensen regrets meeting with President Trump

Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines expressed regret regarding a recent meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, stating that the encounter was exploited for partisan political purposes. Joensen said he wished he had been more shrewd and less simple in light of how the meeting was used. He noted that certain aspects of the current administration are at odds with the Catholic faith, but he remains open to engaging and praying for political leaders.

The meeting followed a video posted by the White House on Oct. 22, which showed Denver Archbishop James Golka leading a prayer with the president. The video included approximately a dozen bishops and was shared by White House communications adviser Margo Martin without a description of the discussion. Archbishop Golka and other attending bishops clarified that the meeting was not a political endorsement. They stated they were invited by the White House Faith Office to discuss Catholic concerns, including religious liberty, the right to life, school choice, and the dignity of migrants.

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob also issued a public apology for any confusion caused by the video, stating he did not know it would be shared publicly.