The facts
Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines, Iowa, have stated they regret participating in a White House meeting that included a prayer with President Donald Trump. Grob said the White House publicized photos and video of the meeting without the participants' consent, less than two weeks before the midterm elections. He expressed sadness that the prayer was "manipulated" for political purposes. Joensen stated he wished he had been more discerning, feeling the White House exploited their meeting for partisan gain. The White House did not confirm or deny if consent was given for the photo release, with a spokeswoman stating Trump has been a strong president for Catholic Americans. Grob indicated the meeting was presented as a private discussion on issues like immigration and abortion, not an endorsement of the president or his party.
Our take
Well, well, well. Look who just discovered that Donald Trump’s White House is a grift factory that will use any holy man as a set decoration for its bullshit propaganda. Archbishops Jeffrey Grob and William Joensen wandered into the lion’s den for what they thought was a ‘private discussion’ and came out as starring extras in a two-week-out midterm election ad. What a pair of fucking rubes. They’re ‘sad’ the prayer was ‘manipulated’? You sat down with the most notoriously transactional, image-obsessed conman in modern politics and you’re shocked - shocked! - he used the photo? Did you think you were there for the canapés? He wasn’t seeking spiritual guidance, you absolute cunts, he was checking ‘religious leader’ off his pre-election photoshoot checklist. The White House spokeswoman didn’t even bother denying it, just pivoted to slobbing Trump’s knob about being ‘strong for Catholics.’ Translation: ‘Thanks for the free endorsement, suckers.’ The sheer, gullible vanity of it all is breathtaking. They wanted to feel important, to have a ‘private discussion’ on big issues in the fancy house. Instead, they got turned into living, breathing proof-of-purchase stickers for a president they now claim they weren’t endorsing. The lesson is clear: if you don’t want to be Trump’s campaign prop, don’t let the fucker put his hands on you and pray while his staff photographer gets the shot. ‘I wish I had been more discerning,’ moans Bishop Joensen. No shit, Sherlock. Maybe next time, when the invitation comes from a professional liar, assume it’s a trap. You weren’t pastors in that moment; you were the pious patsies in a cheap political stunt, and you fell for it like a ton of holy bricks. Enjoy your framed souvenir of being used as a human piety filter for a prick who wouldn’t know contrition if it bit him on the gold-plated shitter. Pray for better judgment next time. Assholes.
