Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui was killed in Afghanistan in 2021 during the disastrous evacuation from Kabul and the country under Biden’s watch. He was killed by a suicide bomber at Kabul Airport alongside 12 other Marines.
During Biden’s State of the Union address, Lance Corporal Nikoui’s father interrupted the president’s speech, heckling him by repeatedly shouting “13 Marines” and “Abbey Gate” in memory of the 13 Marines killed in Kabul at the airport’s Abbey Gate.
As background, Mr. Nikoui was brought to the State of the Union address by Rep. Brian Mast. Rep. Mast, tweeting about why he was bringing Mr. Nikoui, said, “I am honored to have Steve Nikoui as my guest to #SOTU. He is the father of LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, who was KIA due to Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. @JoeBiden may try to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but NOT ON MY WATCH.”
Robby Starbuck, a Republican from Tennessee and popular X personality, describing who it was who interrupted Biden, said, “The man who shouted and got forcibly removed from #SOTU was Steve Nikoui. His son Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui was killed in Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal. He shouted “13 Marines”. The gaslighting about Americans being safe must have infuriated him.”
Later, Starbuck noted that Mr. Nikoui had been arrested for the interruption and posted a photo that appears to be of the Gold Star dad in handcuffs. “Wow. @townhallcom reports that Steve Nikoui was arrested and charged for interrupting Biden at #SOTU2024 Biden’s government is now arresting a grieving Gold Star parent because he called out Joe after Joe lied by saying that he keeps Americans safe,” Mr. Starbuck said.
Continuing, he added, “His son Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui was killed in Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal. Steve shouted “13 Marines” as a reminder of the troops who died unnecessarily on Biden’s watch during his botched withdrawal. If anyone knows Steve and he has bail, it would be my honor to pay it for him. DM me. What a disgusting, horrific thing for the government to do to a grieving Dad.”
Watch Mr. Nikoui interrupt Biden here:
ABC News, reporting on Mr. Nikoui’s arrest, said that officers in the Capitol asked him to stop shouting and, when he refused, removed him from the House Galleries. The charge on which they arrested him was a misdemeanor, Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding. Further, it reports, “Causing a disruption to Congress in the Congressional Buildings is illegal, Capitol Police said.”
Mr. Nikoui was then freed later in the night. “Steve Nikoui was just freed — thanks to @RepBrianMast. Steve then received a warm welcome. Glad to see him released after being wrongfully arrested for speaking up for his fallen son Kareem during the SOTU.🫡 🇺🇸” one commenter said, posting about Mr. Nikoui’s being released from jail.
Another commenter noted that, though Mr. Nikoui was freed, he was arrested and the pro-Palestine protesters who temporarily blocked Biden’s motorcade were not, saying, “The one guy Biden had arrested was a Veteran. Not any of the protestors illegally blocking Biden’s motorcade. If they were Trump supporters you know it would’ve been a different story. I’m glad Steve Nikoui was eventually freed.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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