WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) drew swift and bipartisan condemnation Friday after she denounced a Sikh religious leader’s prayer in the House of Representatives, mistakenly identifying him as Muslim and calling the moment “deeply troubling.”

In a now-deleted post on X, Miller wrote, “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. America was founded as a Christian nation, and I believe our government should reflect that truth. May God have mercy!” She attached a photo of the prayer leader, who wore a yellow turban.

However, the man in the photo was not Muslim but Sikh: Giani Surinder Singh of the Gurdwara South Jersey Sikh Society in Vineland, N.J. Singh was invited by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) to serve as the day’s guest chaplain, a long-standing tradition that includes faith leaders of many religions.

Van Drew praised Singh’s work, calling him a spiritual leader who “leads not just with words, but with example — with peace, humility, and service toward all.” He also noted Singh’s presence on the 81st anniversary of D-Day, referencing how Sikh soldiers fought alongside Allied forces during World War II.

Miller later edited her post to replace “Muslim” with “Sikh” but left her original sentiment unchanged before ultimately deleting the entire message. Her office did not respond to multiple requests for comment from POLITICO, The Washington Post, and HuffPost.

The post quickly drew condemnation from both sides of the aisle. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called Miller an “ignorant and hateful extremist,” while Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) said he was “troubled” by her remarks and affirmed that Sikh Americans are valued members of U.S. communities.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) added that while America is rooted in Judeo-Christian values, it’s also “a nation that recognizes we are all God’s children,” encouraging respect across faiths.

Democrats responded more forcefully. “Not only is this racist, it dishonors the ‘founding document’ you referenced,” Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) posted on X, referring to the Constitution’s First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion. Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, slammed Miller’s “anti-Sikh, anti-Muslim xenophobia.”

The Sikh Coalition demanded an apology. “Congresswoman Miller should apologize for her remarks — to both the Sikh and Muslim communities,” said Harman Singh, the group’s executive director. “We encourage Congresswoman Miller to learn this lesson from her Sikh constituents, and would be happy to facilitate these conversations.”

Muslim leaders also rebuked the post. “She must have forgotten about the First Amendment in this country,” said Haris Tarin of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Giani Singh’s prayer focused on unity and peace. “Almighty God … we call you by many names, sir. But you are one,” he said during the invocation. “Remind us, sir, of our purpose: To love and serve one another and create a more peaceful world.”

The backlash adds to Miller’s history of controversial remarks. Shortly after being elected to Congress in 2020, she referenced Adolf Hitler during a speech, saying, “Hitler was right on one thing: Whoever has the youth has the future.”

Historian Howard Mortman, author of When Rabbis Bless Congress, told HuffPost that the House has welcomed diverse religious leaders to open sessions with prayer for over a century. “It shows that we live in a multi-faith society — with no established state religion,” Mortman noted.

As of Saturday, Miller has not issued a public apology or clarification beyond deleting the post. The Sikh and Muslim communities, along with fellow lawmakers, continue to call for accountability and a reaffirmation of America’s commitment to religious freedom.