Hold onto your hats, folks—Rep. Mary Miller, R-Illinois, just dropped a social media bombshell that’s got everyone from Capitol Hill to Main Street buzzing with outrage.
In a stunning display of foot-in-mouth syndrome, Miller misidentified a Sikh religious leader as Muslim and declared he shouldn’t have been allowed to lead the House’s morning prayer, igniting a firestorm of criticism from both sides of the aisle, civil rights groups, and faith-based organizations, Daily Mail reported.
On Friday morning, Miller took to social media with a post that raised eyebrows and blood pressure alike, wrongly labeling Giani Surinder Singh, a respected Sikh leader from New Jersey, as Muslim.
She didn’t stop there; she claimed it was “deeply troubling” for a non-Christian to lead the House prayer and doubled down with a historically inaccurate assertion that America founded itself as a Christian nation.
By early morning, Miller tried to edit her post, swapping “Muslim” for “Sikh,” but the damage was done, and she ultimately deleted the message without offering any explanation.
Turns out, actions have consequences, and the backlash hit like a freight train, with leaders from both parties slamming her remarks as ignorant and contrary to American values.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, didn’t mince words, stating, “It's deeply troubling that such an ignorant and hateful extremist is serving in the United States Congress.” Well, Congressman, when you’re right, you’re right—ignorance in high office is a problem we can all agree on.
Even fellow Republicans like Rep. Nick LaLota, R-New York, pushed back hard, saying, “A Sikh prayer on the House floor doesn't violate the Constitution.” It’s refreshing to see someone stand up for the First Amendment, even if it means bucking party lines.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-New Jersey, who invited Singh to offer the prayer, defended his guest, noting, “The Sikh community is peaceful, generous, and deeply rooted in family.” That’s the kind of neighborly respect we need more of, not less.
Democrats weren’t shy either, with Rep. Grace Meng, D-New York, calling out the “blatant ignorance and anti-Sikh, anti-Muslim xenophobia” in Miller’s words. When even the deleted tweets can’t escape scrutiny, you know you’ve stepped in it.
Civil rights and religious groups piled on, with the Sikh Coalition demanding a formal apology to both Sikh and Muslim communities for the offensive conflation of identities.
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus accused Miller of bigotry, pointing out that mistaking religions based on appearance is not just wrong—it’s a lazy stereotype we can’t afford in Congress.
Let’s not forget, Miller hasn’t faced controversy for the first time—she previously apologized for praising Hitler’s influence on youth in 2021 and stumbled again in 2022 with a Trump rally remark about a “victory for white life,” which her office called a slip-up.
While some might argue she’s just prone to verbal gaffes, patterns matter, and it’s worth asking if these missteps reflect deeper issues with understanding America’s diverse fabric.
For context, the U.S. Constitution is crystal clear—no religious test for office, no established religion, and House prayers have long included leaders from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Maybe it’s time for a refresher course on the First Amendment, because ignoring it isn’t just un-American—it’s a disservice to the very principles conservatives claim to defend.
