White House defends Trump after archbishop criticizes Oval Office prayer video

The White House on Monday defended President Donald Trump after Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob publicly apologized for participating in an Oval Office prayer with the president, as reported by the New York Post and Fox News. The news outlets reported that Grob accused the administration of using the religious event for political gain less than two weeks before the midterm elections. [1][2]

The New York Post and Fox News both report that Grob issued a statement on Sunday titled A Public Apology. In the statement, Grob alleged that the White House distributed photographs and video of the Thursday prayer without the consent of the 12 participating bishops. He accused the administration of manipulating a sacred moment after receiving messages from concerned Catholics. [1][2]

The dispute comes amid broader tensions between the administration and the media. Al Jazeera reported on Monday that a group of private citizens filed a lawsuit in a federal court in New York over White House restrictions on news outlets. Meanwhile, Fox News reported that Trump is considering relocating the White House press corps to a different site, though he denied plans to replace the briefing room with an indoor pool. [3][6]

The controversies arrive as political tension builds ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. As FTMQ News reported earlier, a Reuters and Ipsos poll showed Trump's approval rating at 32 percent, with registered voters preferring Democrats over Republicans by 47 percent to 36 percent ahead of the November 3 vote. [17]