Washington (CNN) Twenty members of the faith community gathered in the Oval Office to meet with President Donald Trump on Monday, according to one of the participants. Rev. Bill Owens, the controversial founder of a conservative religious organization, said the President did "more talking than listening" during the event, which was long-scheduled but came after Trump disparaged a top African American lawmaker over the weekend.

Trump tweeted ahead of the meeting that he was "looking forward to" a meeting "with wonderful Inner City Pastors!" The meeting was not open to press but afterward several of the attendees answered a few questions.

"Two hours of discussion, that's not a photo-op," Owens said defending the length and substance of the meeting. He said the leaders discussed "the issues facing the black community, and there are many."

The meeting came the same day as Trump escalated attacks against Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat, and launched new ones against Rev. Al Sharpton

Over the past few days, Trump continued his attacks against notable people of color, drawing condemnation from Democrats and progressives, who lambasted the President for his divisive rhetoric. The President notably called Baltimore, a majority African American city which Cummings represents, a "disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess."

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