Mary Miller, a Republican Congresswoman from Illinois, is facing significant backlash following her remarks regarding a Sikh prayer delivered in the US House of Representatives.

On Friday, Miller posted, and later deleted, a message on X (formerly known as Twitter) expressing her disapproval of Giani Singh, a Sikh Granthi from southern New Jersey, who had conducted the morning prayer.

Initially, Miller incorrectly identified Singh as a Muslim, stating that it was 'deeply troubling' for someone of that faith to lead a prayer in the House, asserting that it 'should never have been allowed'.

She also emphasized her belief that 'America was founded as a Christian nation', suggesting that the government should reflect that identity.

Following swift criticism, Miller amended her post to correctly identify Singh as Sikh before ultimately removing the entire message.

This incident spurred reactions from various political figures across the spectrum, particularly within the Democratic Party.

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House minority leader, described Miller's comments as 'deeply troubling', labeling her an 'ignorant and hateful extremist'.

Other lawmakers voiced their concerns as well.

Republican Congressman David Valadao of California expressed his discontent regarding Miller's deleted remarks, highlighting the significant contributions of Sikh-Americans in their communities while noting the ongoing harassment and discrimination they face.

Democratic Congressman Jared Huffman humorously criticized Miller's intellect, suggesting her remarks caused him to reconsider the high regard in which he holds his colleagues from earlier centuries.

Fellow Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman from New Jersey condemned Miller’s perspective, underscoring the need for respect for religious freedom in Congress.

Grace Meng, a Democratic Congresswoman from New York, described Miller’s comments as reflective of 'blatant ignorance and anti-Sikh, anti-Muslim xenophobia', asserting that such sentiments have no place in America or within Congress.

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) also issued a statement condemning Miller’s actions, characterizing her remarks as 'anti-Sikh and anti-Muslim bigotry'.

They pointed out the distinct nature of Sikhism and Islam, criticizing the conflation of the two religions as not only ignorant but also indicative of racial bias.

The Sikh Coalition responded via X, stating that while the deletion of her tweet was a step, it was insufficient and called for Miller to apologize to both Sikh and Muslim communities, emphasizing that no individual should be targeted based on their identity.

The Hindu American Foundation further condemned Miller’s remarks, labeling them as xenophobic and contrary to American values, particularly the principles enshrined in the First Amendment, which prohibits favoring one religion over another.

As of the latest reports, Miller’s office has not provided comments regarding the backlash.