On Monday, 15 September, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with United States President Donald J. Trump at the White House, marking the sixth American president he has visited.
The meeting, held in the Oval Office and lasting over half an hour, unfolded in a warm atmosphere. President Trump expressed keen interest in the many initiatives and ministry of the Ecumenical Throne, as well as the situation of Christians living in Turkey.
During their exchange, the Ecumenical Patriarch congratulated the President on his efforts to promote global peace, with particular reference to Ukraine. They also addressed the conditions faced by Christian communities in the Middle East.
The discussion touched on the forthcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV to Turkey, where he and the Ecumenical Patriarch will jointly commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
Patriarch Bartholomew extended his condolences to the President for the murder of his friend and associate Charlie Kirk, and thanked him for the warm welcome and the gift presented during the audience.
Accompanying the Patriarch were Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Metropolitan Theodoritos of Laodicea, Metropolitan Maximos of Sylivria, the Chief Ecclesiarch Aetios, Director of the Patriarchal Private Office, and Protopresbyter Alexander Karloutsos of the Ecumenical Throne.
President Trump was joined by Vice President J.D Vance, as well as Reince Priebus, a member of the President’s Advisory Committee on Intelligence Services, and Michael Kratsios, the President’s Scientific Advisor.
