Rep. Max Miller apologized not long after receiving harsh criticism for requesting that an Ohio Right to Life official delete a tweet he labeled as "bigoted." The tweet said there is "no hope for any of us outside of having faith in Jesus Christ alone," The Hill reported on Wednesday.
The Ohio Republican had asked the organization's director of communications, Lizzie Marbach, to delete her tweet from X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. "This is one of the most bigoted tweets I have ever seen. Delete it, Lizzie," he said. "Religious freedom in the United States applies to every religion. You have gone too far."
There was quick criticism of Miller from conservatives, with Matt Walsh, a podcast host and columnist for The Daily Wire, posting on X, "As a GOP congressman from Ohio why in the world would you think it a good idea to condemn someone as bigoted for professing their Christian faith and demand that they delete it?"
Among others joining in the criticism was the rapid response director for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign, Christina Pushaw, who posted on X, "Regardless of anyone's religious beliefs, it's just fundamentally wrong for a member of congress to order a citizen to delete a tweet. This isn't a dictatorship."
Conservatives were not the only ones to blast Miller, with Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, posting on X, "Stating the core beliefs or principles of your faith isn't bigoted as Lizzie did, it's religious freedom and no one should be scolded for that. It's also wrong to speak about religious freedom while simultaneously harassing people who freely express their beliefs."
Just hours after he posted his first tweet and following the onslaught of condemnations, Miller wrote another tweet in which he said, "I posted something earlier that conveyed a message I did not intend. I will not try to hide my mistake or run from it. I sincerely apologize to Lizzie and to everyone who read my post."