Pat. Bartholomew Meets Pres. Trump at White House

Photo: Archons/Orthodox Observer/J. Mindala

WASHINGTON — Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople met with President Donald J. Trump at the White House on Monday, September 15, 2025, marking the sixth U.S. president he has visited. The meeting in the Oval Office lasted more than half an hour and took place in a warm and cordial atmosphere.

President Trump expressed interest in the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s global initiatives and the situation of Christians in Turkey. Patriarch Bartholomew praised the president’s efforts toward peace, particularly in Ukraine, and the two also discussed the plight of Christians in the Middle East.

The conversation touched on the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to Turkey for the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Vice President JD Vance, a Roman Catholic, showed strong interest in the event.

Patriarch Bartholomew also offered condolences to President Trump on the assassination of his friend and associate Charlie Kirk and thanked him for his hospitality and gift.

The Patriarch was joined by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Metropolitans Theodoritos of Laodicea and Maximos of Sylivria, Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, and Protopresbyter Alexander Karloutsos. President Trump was accompanied by Vice President Vance, Reince Priebus, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Intelligence Services, and Michael Kratsios, the president’s scientific advisor.

Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in the U.S. last night for an extended stay which will culminate in his receipt of the Templeton Prize next week. A full schedule of events for the patriarchal visit can be found here.

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