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Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) is facing significant backlash after she posted – and subsequently deleted – an erroneous and controversial comment on X (formerly Twitter) targeting a prayer offered at the start of Friday's House session. Miller initially expressed outrage that a "Muslim prayer" was allowed, asserting that "America was founded as a Christian nation" and that the government "should reflect that truth."
The prayer, however, was led by Giani Surinder Singh, a leader from the Sikh Society, welcomed by Miller's GOP colleague, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ). Sikhs are distinct from Muslims, a fact that quickly led to a wave of corrections and criticism aimed at Miller.
Giani Surinder Singh's prayer invoked a "universal creator god," noting it is "called many names," and asked for divine guidance for members of Congress to foster a "great nation," "keep love in our heart and sound judgment in our minds," and "create a more peaceful world."
Despite the clear distinction, Miller's initial post on X read: "It's deeply troubling that a Muslim was allowed to lead prayer in the House of Representatives this morning. This should have never been allowed to happen. America was founded as a Christian nation, and I believe our government should reflect that truth, not drift further from it. May God have mercy!"
Following swift online condemnation and fact-checks, Miller edited her post to change "Muslim" to "Sikh" but retained the rest of the inflammatory message. She later deleted this edited post as well.
The Sikh faith, according to the Sikh Coalition website, emphasizes that "people of all faiths worship one Divine Being who created this world and lives within it," and prioritizes community service and hard work.
Politico's Nicholas Wu documented Miller's real-time edits on X. The public response has been sharply divided, with some conservatives supporting her sentiment while others have vociferously called out her "racism" and "xenophobia."
Andrew Weinstein, a former Justice Department appointee, remarked on the incident, noting, "Posted - and then deleted - this morning. 514 days until the midterms," suggesting the potential political fallout. Journalist Yashar Ali on Bluesky characterized Miller as a "notorious bigot," stating, "Illinois Congresswoman and notorious bigot Mary Miller posted an Islamophobic tweet this morning, realized she had made a mistake, and then posted an anti-Sikh tweet. She has since deleted the anti-Sikh tweet."
The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding religious diversity and representation within American political discourse.
