GOP Rep. Mary Miller Sparks Bipartisan Backlash Over Sikh Remarks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) faces bipartisan condemnation after wrongly identifying a Sikh man as Muslim and saying he should not have led a House prayer. Lawmakers from both parties are denouncing her remark as ignorant and disrespectful, renewing scrutiny of her history of inflammatory statements.
Mary Miller Sikh Comment Fallout: Quick Looks
- Rep. Mary Miller misidentified a Sikh as a Muslim, calling his House prayer “deeply troubling.”
- Bipartisan criticism quickly followed, with GOP colleagues labeling her “ignorant” and Democrats calling it bigotry.
- Miller later edited and deleted her controversial post from X after correcting the mistake.
- Sikh granthi Giani Singh was invited by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who defended the peaceful, inclusive nature of Sikhism.
- Congressional Asian Pacific Islander Caucus condemned Miller’s remarks, labeling them anti-Sikh and anti-Muslim.
- Critics reminded Miller of First Amendment protections, emphasizing the U.S. is not a Christian-only nation.
- Miller has a track record of incendiary comments, including references to Hitler and white supremacy.
- Rep. Nick LaLota defended interfaith representation, saying his Catholic faith was not offended by the Sikh prayer.
- Miller’s office has yet to issue a formal apology or respond to media inquiries.
Deep Look: Rep. Mary Miller’s Anti-Sikh Comment Sparks Bipartisan Backlash
| June 7, 2025 |
Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) is once again at the center of controversy, facing fierce bipartisan backlash after making a religiously insensitive comment that misidentified a Sikh prayer leader as Muslim and questioned his right to offer the House’s daily invocation.
A Disrespectful Post
The controversy erupted after Giani Singh, a Sikh granthi from New Jersey, delivered the House of Representatives’ morning prayer. Following the prayer, Miller took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice her disapproval, writing:
“It’s deeply troubling a Muslim was allowed to lead prayer in the House of Representatives this morning. This should have never been allowed to happen.”
She also claimed the U.S. was “founded as a Christian nation,” asserting that “our government should reflect that truth.”
After being informed of her error, Miller updated the post to correctly label Singh as Sikh rather than Muslim—but then deleted the post entirely. Her office has not responded to requests for comment.
GOP Joins the Criticism
The misstep drew condemnation not only from Democrats but also from members of her own party.
“People should think before they talk or type,” said one House Republican anonymously to Axios, calling Miller’s remarks “darn ignorant.”
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) publicly defended the interfaith gesture, posting:
“A Sikh prayer on the House floor doesn’t violate the Constitution, offend my Catholic faith, or throttle my support for Israel. Live and let live.”
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), who invited Singh to deliver the prayer, also spoke out:
“Part of being American is respecting other people’s faiths too. The Sikh community is peaceful, generous, and deeply rooted in family and service.”
A Broader Rejection of Religious Intolerance
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus denounced the incident, calling Miller’s remarks both anti-Sikh and anti-Muslim bigotry, and demanding accountability. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), who had previously invited Singh to speak, added:
“I’m deeply disappointed by Rep. Mary Miller’s comments. Her words do not reflect the values of inclusivity and respect.”
These statements echo a broader concern that Miller’s post undermines the core American principle of religious freedom.
Constitutional Clarification
Despite Miller’s claim that the U.S. is a “Christian nation,” constitutional scholars and lawmakers alike reminded the public that America was not founded with an official religion. The First Amendment protects religious freedom, and Article VI explicitly bars religious tests for public office.
This controversy highlights the delicate balance between religious identity and American civic life—one that the Constitution has long aimed to protect.
A History of Inflammatory Rhetoric
This is not the first time Rep. Miller has been embroiled in controversy.
- In 2021, she said: “Hitler was right on one thing. He said, ‘Whoever has the youth has the future.’”
She later apologized after widespread outrage. - In 2022, while celebrating the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, she called it a “victory for white life”—a remark her office later claimed was a misread of her notes.
These incidents contribute to a growing reputation for extremism, even among some of her Republican peers.
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