Catholic Bishops meet President Trump at the White House

A group of approximately eight to thirteen Catholic bishops and archbishops met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on October 22. The meeting, organized by the White House Faith Office, included discussions on religious freedom, school choice, religious visas, and policies regarding the sanctity of life.

Denver Archbishop James Golka led a prayer for the president and the United States, asking for divine protection against the “influence of evil.” The event, which included the presence of spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain, was captured in video footage released by the White House.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) clarified that it did not organize or affiliate with the meeting. While the Archdiocese of Denver stated the prayer was a longstanding practice for public officials and not a political endorsement, the timing of the footage release—just days before the midterm elections—has drawn scrutiny and debate regarding the intersection of faith and partisan politics.