Illinois Republican Mistakes Sikh for Muslim, Calls Him Delivering Prayer in House ‘Deeply Troubling’

Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) said it was “deeply disturbing” that a Sikh delivered a prayer in the House chamber on Friday — after apparently mistaking him for a Muslim man.

The since-deleted post Friday morning sparked immediate bipartisan criticism.

“It’s deeply troubling that a Muslim was allowed to lead prayer in the House of Representatives this morning. This should never have been allowed to happen,” Miller said on the social platform X. “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!”

She attached a photo of the guest chaplain, who was wearing a yellow turban, leading the customary prayer that occurs every day at the opening of the House floor.

But the guest chaplain was not a Muslim, but a Sikh: Giani Surinder Singh, of Gurdwara South Jersey Sikh Society in Vineland, N.J. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who opened the floor, introduced the guest chaplain.

Miller later edited her post on X to replace “Muslim” with “Sikh” before deleting the post altogether. Her office did not respond to a request for comment about the incident.

The House has long welcomed guest chaplains from many types of faiths  — including Muslims, with a Muslim guest chaplain notably reading from the Quran in November 2001 following the 9/11 terror attacks.

Miller’s post sparked bipartisan condemnation.

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“Our country was founded on the Constitution – which happens to care enough about freedom of religion that it’s in the very first amendment,” Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) said in a post responding to Miller. “Not only is this racist, it dishonors the ‘founding document’ you referenced.”

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