Rep. Mary Miller Faces Backlash for Remarks on Sikh Man Leading House Prayer

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) is facing intense criticism after a now-deleted social media post in which she expressed disapproval of a Sikh religious leader, Giani Surinder Singh, leading the opening prayer on the House floor. In her original post on X (formerly Twitter), Miller misidentified Singh as Muslim and claimed it was “deeply troubling” that he was invited to offer the invocation.

Miller wrote that Singh “should never have been allowed” to lead the prayer and called on Congress to uphold the notion that “America was founded as a Christian nation.” After facing immediate backlash and correcting the misidentification, she deleted the post entirely. Miller’s office has not issued a public comment on the matter.

Giani Surinder Singh’s Invitation and Role

Giani Surinder Singh, a Sikh religious leader from New Jersey, was invited to deliver the prayer by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) as part of a long-standing tradition of allowing religious leaders from various faiths to open House sessions with prayer.

Following the prayer, Van Drew lauded Singh’s contributions: “Day after day, year after year, he leads not just with words, but with example, with peace, with humility, with service towards all. These are not just Sikh values. They are American values.”

Community Response and Demands for Apology

Miller’s remarks drew sharp condemnation from civil rights groups and lawmakers across party lines. Harman Singh, executive director of the Sikh Coalition, demanded an apology and urged Miller to engage with members of the Sikh community in her district.

“Congresswoman Miller should apologize for her remarks — to both the Sikh and Muslim communities,” Singh said. “No one should be targeted based on their identity.”

Haris Tarin, Vice President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, also denounced Miller’s rhetoric as “Islamophobic” and rejected her assertion that the U.S. is a Christian-only nation.

“We were intentionally founded as a nation of all faiths,” Tarin said. “Apparently she must have forgotten about the First Amendment.”

Lawmakers Speak Out

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle condemned Miller’s statements:

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.): “It’s deeply troubling that someone with such contempt for religious freedom is allowed to serve in this body.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.): “It’s deeply troubling that such an ignorant and hateful extremist is serving in the United States Congress. That would be you, Mary.”
Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.): “Sikh-Americans are valued and respected members of our communities, yet they continue to face harassment and discrimination.”

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus also weighed in, accusing Miller of displaying “anti-Sikh and anti-Muslim bigotry.”

“Sikhs and Muslims practice two separate and distinct religions,” the caucus stated. “Conflating the two based on appearance is not only ignorant but also racist.”

Broader Concerns Over Religious Freedom

The controversy has reignited conversations about religious tolerance and the importance of diversity in public institutions. Faith leaders and civil rights advocates have emphasized the need for elected officials to respect the pluralistic foundations of the United States.

As of now, Rep. Mary Miller has not issued an apology or responded to calls for dialogue with the communities her comments offended.