Trump's Catholic Approval Drops to 30% as Bishops Regret White House Photo Op

Donald Trump's approval rating among US Catholics has fallen to 30%, a sharp decline from the 47% he held when he took office in 2025. This drop coincides with a public apology from two senior church leaders who met the president at the White House.

The timeline of events began on 22 October when a group of bishops visited the Oval Office. At the time, the meeting was intended to be private. However, on 26 October, images and video of the session were released publicly. The visuals show the bishops standing around Trump at the Resolute Desk while they pray.

The release of the media prompted immediate scrutiny. Many observers questioned whether the gathering was a political statement made less than two weeks before the 3 November midterm election. The timing raised concerns among voters about the relationship between the church and the administration.

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee stated that he believed the meeting was private and not a political photo opportunity. He noted that he began receiving messages of serious concern from congregants. Some felt wounded because their families had been harmed by the president's policies. Grob said none of the participants gave permission for the public distribution of the video or photos.

Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, also issued a statement expressing regret. He explained that the meeting was arranged by the White House Faith Office to discuss immigration and visas for international clergy. Joensen said the group discussed the exploitation of vulnerable poor persons. He added that no one intended to endorse a political party or an individual candidate.

Joensen described himself as less shrewd than those who used the meeting for partisan political purposes. He expressed a wish that he had been more careful in his handling of the event. The comments from both leaders serve as a direct response to the public reaction following the leak.

Margo Martin, a special assistant to the president, released the video of the meeting. She frequently shares behind-the-scenes images of Trump on social media. The White House did not directly address the bishops' comments regarding the nature of the meeting. Instead, Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers stated that Trump is the greatest president for Catholic Americans and that his record proves it.

Pew Research Center data shows that opinions of Trump's performance have slipped among all major religious groups. In a survey conducted this month, 42% of Catholics said they preferred Democrats in their local House of Representatives races. Meanwhile, 39% favored Republicans. This preference could influence the control of Congress in the upcoming election.

The administration's relationship with the Catholic Church has been contentious during Trump's second term. The president has maintained a tense dynamic with Pope Leo XIV. This tension has arisen partly due to the administration's aggressive moves to remove people believed to be in the US illegally. Some bishops have also criticized the immigration policies.

On 13 October, nine days before the Oval Office meeting, Bishop Brendon Cahill and Walter Kim of the National Association of Evangelicals issued a statement. They urged Christian compassion and wisdom in the immigration debate. They stated that the clampdown had led to fear, fractured families, and the vilification of neighbors. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops also recently condemned the administration's scrapped plan to livestream a military execution.

Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are both Catholics who have visited the Vatican during this term. Robert Barron of Minnesota and former New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan serve on the president's Religious Liberty Commission. These connections illustrate the complex ties between the current administration and the US Catholic hierarchy.