Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller is facing backlash over a now-deleted post in which she described it as "deeply troubling" that a Sikh, Giani Surinder Singh, delivered the morning prayer on the US House floor.
Miller posted on X, “it’s deeply troubling that a Sikh was allowed to lead prayer” in the House, which is now deleted.
“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,” she further added.
Giani Surinder Singh, a member of the Gurudwara South Jersey Sikh Society in Vineland, New Jersey, was introduced as the guest chaplain on Friday morning and led the U.S. House in its opening prayer.
Miller's original post mentioned Singh as 'Muslim' which she edited according to a screenshot posted by Politico reporter Nicholas Wu.
Posting on X, GOP Rep. David Valadao of California said he’s “troubled by my colleague’s remarks.”
“Throughout the country—and in the Central Valley— Sikh-Americans are valued and respected members of our communities, yet they continue to face harassment and discrimination,” Valadao said.
GOP Rep. Nick LaLota of New York wrote on X, “A Sikh prayer on the House floor—followed by a Christian prayer one week and a Jewish prayer the next—doesn’t violate the Constitution, offend my Catholic faith, or throttle my support for Israel. Live and let live.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on X, “It’s deeply troubling that such an ignorant and hateful extremist is serving in the United States Congress. That would be you, Mary.”
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus condemned Miller’s comments.
“Sikhs and Muslims practice two separate and distinct religions, and conflating the two based on how someone looks is not only ignorant but also racist,” the caucus, whose members are all Democrats, said in a statement posted to X.
(With agency inputs)
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