Rep. Mary Miller Sparks Controversy with Comments on Sikh Prayer

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Mary Miller, a Republican from Illinois, is facing backlash for comments she made about a Sikh leader delivering a prayer in the House of Representatives. On Friday, Miller posted on X, formerly Twitter, that it was ‘deeply troubling’ for a Muslim to lead the prayer, incorrectly identifying the Sikh leader, Giani Surinder Singh, as Muslim.

Miller’s statement has ignited a firestorm of criticism from both sides of the aisle. She stated, ‘America was founded as a Christian nation, and I believe our government should reflect that truth.’ This statement has been widely condemned as religious bigotry, given that the U.S. Constitution grants the right to practice any faith.

Singh, who leads a Sikh congregation in New Jersey, was invited to deliver the opening prayer as part of a tradition that allows guest leaders to participate. Following the prayer, Rep. Jeff Van Drew praised Singh’s leadership, emphasizing that his values exemplify American ideals of peace and humility.

After posting her comments, Miller edited the post to correctly identify Singh’s religion but later deleted it altogether. Her office has yet to respond to requests for further comment regarding her remarks.

The legislative response was swift. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries tweeted his displeasure, affirming that it is ‘deeply troubling’ an individual with such extreme views serves in Congress. Republican Rep. David Valadao also expressed concern over Miller’s comments, highlighting the respect Sikh Americans command in their communities.

Organizations have called for an apology from Miller. Harman Singh of the Sikh Coalition stated, ‘Congresswoman Miller should apologize for her remarks—to both the Sikh and Muslim communities.’ Haris Tarin, of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, criticized Miller for her apparent Islamophobia.

This isn’t the first instance in which Miller has made headlines for controversial remarks. In 2021, she faced severe backlash for praising Adolf Hitler’s approach to youth leadership, which she later tried to clarify.