Last week, a group of Catholic prelates, including Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob, went to the White House for a visit after being invited by the conservative Heritage Foundation. At the White House, the prelates spoke with staff and advisors for about 90 minutes about matters important to the Church, "including immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, and human dignity."

After the meeting, the religious leaders were ushered into the Oval Office and told to stand behind Trump. As they said a prayer over Trump, the bishops were unknowingly videotaped, and the White House then released the footage without the permission of any of the bishops in attendance.

Grob said that he started getting calls from parishioners and others who were upset about his appearance with Trump and who felt hurt and betrayed because they have suffered harm from Trump's policies.

This caused Grob to issue a public apology. He emphasized that the meeting was in no way meant to be an endorsement of Trump, his policies, or the Republican Party. He went on to include this in his apology letter:

It did not take long thereafter for the White House to post a video and photos of the prayer. I soon began receiving messages of serious concern over the possibility that I had inadvertently participated in a political event less than two weeks before a national election. I also heard from some who felt wounded because of the ways they or their family had been harmed by the president’s policies.

I feel a heavy sadness, not only over the pain I caused, but also for the fact that something so sacred to a group of religious leaders, prayer to our Heavenly Father, would be manipulated in that way. We came in good faith to try to work for the betterment of our fellow human beings, to ease their suffering, to build up the common good, and to pray with a president, not to pose for a political photo opportunity to benefit the few. We should never have been put in that position by the White House. I did not go without reservations. I wish I had heeded them. Please know that I have heard these concerns, understand how I caused them, and I apologize for any damage my actions have done.

Grob's account of the events sounds totally plausible. It would be totally on brand for Trump to exploit religious leaders in that way for political and personal gain. And yet, his base will still go along with it and think that Trump is some kind of messiah king, come down to save them all.