Last night, President Biden was interrupted during his State of the Union address by a man on the balcony who began yelling “Abbey Gate” repeatedly.
The man was arrested and escorted out of the building.
According to Fox News, the man was Steve Nikoui — a Gold Star father who lost his son Lance Col. Kareem Nikoui in the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.
From Fox News:
The heckling was a reference to an attack at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan that occurred during the military’s withdrawal from the country.
The surprise attack killed 13 U.S. service members and injured at least 170 civilians — including Nikoui’s son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui.
Nikoui was confronted by security during his outburst, who demanded he stop. He refused and continued shouting.
He was removed from the House Galleries and arrested by Capitol Police on the misdemeanor charge of Crowding, Obstructing or Incommoding.
Clips of Nikoui being arrested and released below:
Joe Biden gets heckled by Gold Star Father Steve Nikoui.
His son, Lance Col. Kareem Nikoui, was killed by a terrorist suicide bomber during Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/3BGGNguO6c
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 8, 2024
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.
🫡 🇺🇸 https://t.co/vDT8Gt85zi pic.twitter.com/gJMN1zVcIJ
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 8, 2024
Nikoui was in attendance as a guest of Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL).
“By inviting Steve to join the State of the Union, I am reminding President Biden of the damage he has done to national security and American families,” Mast wrote ahead of the State of the Union address.
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