A man identified as Steve Nikoui, the father of Marine Colonel Lance Kareem Nikoui who was killed in the August 21, 2021 Abbey Gate terrorist attack at Kabul Airport during Joe Biden’s retreat from Afghanistan that killed thirteen US servicemen and about 170 Afghan civilians as he tried to flee the triumphant Taliban, was arrested and placed in handcuffs by Capitol security Thursday evening after criticizing Biden for the attack during the State of the Union address. Listeners heard Nikoui shout “United States Marines!” and “Abbey Gate!” among other things in the short outburst. Nikoui was reportedly charged with a misdemeanor.
A man was escorted from the House chamber during Biden’s speech after he stood up and yelled at the president. The man was sitting in the gallery of the room. At one point he shouted: “United States Marines”. #SOTU2024
Follow live: https://t.co/hhsWDK6Lab pic.twitter.com/dQqh6UlIze
— The hill (@lacollina) March 8, 2024
Nikoui was a guest of Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL).
I am honored to have Steve Nikoui as my guest #SOLD. He is the father of LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, KIA due to Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.@JoeBiden he may try to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but NOT ON MY WATCH. pic.twitter.com/wE3uKrMlEa
— Representative Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 7, 2024
A photo of Nikoui in handcuffs was published by USA Today reporter Ken Tran: “The protester who interrupted Biden and shouted at Abbey Gate after being escorted out of the House gallery has been handcuffed. The source sent this photo”
The protester who interrupted Biden and shouted at Abbey Gate after being escorted from the House gallery has been handcuffed. Source sent together with this photo >> pic.twitter.com/4kQFytfSOn
— Ken Tran (@kentran_) March 8, 2024
The video shows Nikoui peacefully leaving the tunnel when security intervened:
Joe Biden is criticized by Gold Star father Steve Nikoui.
His son, Lance Col. Kareem Nikoui, was killed by a suicide terrorist during Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/3BGGNguO6c
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 8, 2024
Spectator journalist Matthew Foldi reported that Nikoui was charged with a misdemeanor.
Steve NIKOUI WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH CRIME PROTEST https://t.co/oUtZelwzJz
— Matteo Foldi (@MatteoFoldi) March 8, 2024
Foldi also posted an indignant reaction sent to him by Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), a former Navy SEAL, “If Gold Star families are arrested and a congressman [@JamaalBowmanNY] he wasn’t arrested for committing a crime, it’s not fair.” @derrickvanorden from #WI03 tells me about this”
“If the Gold Star families are arrested and a congressman [@JamaalBowmanNY] he wasn’t arrested for committing a crime, that’s not right.” #WI03‘S @derrickvanorden to me on this https://t.co/lcP4x4X6Rv
— Matteo Foldi (@MatteoFoldi) March 8, 2024
Congressman Mast posted his approval of his guest’s outburst: “In the last three SOTU speeches, Joe Biden has REFUSED to say the names of the 13 US service members who have been killed since his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. I couldn’t support this effort more. Say their names!”
In the last three SOTU speeches, Joe Biden has REFUSED to say the names of the 13 US service members killed since his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
I couldn’t support this effort more. Say their names! #SOTU2024 https://t.co/eld0j0RVi5
— Representative Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 8, 2024
The families of the fallen do not feel treated fairly by Biden. On Wednesday, Christy Shamblin, the mother-in-law of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, also killed in the Abbey Gate attack, appeared on CNN, shocking host Abby D. Phillip by telling her that Biden has not spoken to her family at all and that the White House has ignored their pleas.
CNN host stunned when Gold Star mom says Biden NEVER contacted her family about her daughter-in-law’s death.
CNN: “He is often called the ‘Comforter in Chief.’ Talk to families who have lost loved ones… Have you experienced this from him?”
Christ… pic.twitter.com/apPQiMyMSd
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 7, 2024
Full interview:
Marine Sergeant Nicole Gee was killed by a suicide bomber during the Biden administration’s catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
His mother-in-law, Christy Shamblin, joined the CHM @RepMcCaul ON @CNN to discuss the importance of getting answers from the Biden administration ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QuuN3J5ot0
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) March 7, 2024
UPDATE: Steve Nikoui was released from custody late last night:
WATCH: STEVE NIKOUI IS FREE!!!!
Thank you @RepBrianMast!!!!!!! https://t.co/N2ps242yre pic.twitter.com/lKY1yyaVlO
— Matteo Foldi (@MatteoFoldi) March 8, 2024
And received a hero’s welcome from the other Gold Star families:
WATCH: Steve Nikoui’s Gold Star families give him a hero’s welcome after he is freed from his completely deranged arrest by @CapitolPolice ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ https://t.co/uLSjSwmpQA pic.twitter.com/MFdlrmSMfC
— Matteo Foldi (@MatteoFoldi) March 8, 2024
Context posted by Washington Post reporter Dan Lamothe: “I can’t talk about any of this. But I can say that not only did Steve Nikoui lose his son, Kareem, in the Abbey Gate disaster, but Kareem’s brother also died by suicide a year later at Kareem’s memorial site. Context worth including.
I can’t talk about all this. But I can say that not only did Steve Nikoui lose his son, Kareem, in the Abbey Gate disaster, but Kareem’s brother also died by suicide a year later at Kareem’s memorial site.
Context worth including. https://t.co/FhR45jJAJi
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) March 8, 2024