White House defends Trump after archbishop calls prayer moment 'manipulated' ahead of midterms

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob apologized for participating in an Oval Office prayer with President Trump, stating the White House manipulated the event for political purposes by releasing photos and videos without consent. The White House defended Trump, highlighting his actions on religious liberty and Catholic priorities. Other bishops also expressed concern about the publicity, emphasizing their intention was not political endorsement.

• Archbishop Jeffrey Grob apologized for participating in an Oval Office prayer with President Trump, accusing the White House of manipulating the event for political gain.
• Grob stated that photos and videos of the prayer were distributed without the consent of the participating bishops.
• The White House defended President Trump’s record on religious liberty and Catholic priorities.
• The prayer meeting, arranged by the Heritage Foundation, was intended to discuss immigration enforcement and religious worker visas.
• Other bishops also voiced concerns about the public release of the prayer, stating it was not meant as a political endorsement.