The man, identified as Steve Nikoy, was killed in a terrorist attack on the monastery gate at Kabul airport during Joe Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 21, 2021, killing 13 US military personnel and approximately 170 Afghan civilians. He is the father of slain Marine Corps Colonel Kareem Nikoi. Fleeing the victorious Taliban, he was arrested and handcuffed by Capitol security on Thursday night after heckled Biden about the attack during the State of the Union address. Listeners heard Nikoi yelling „United States Marines!“ and „Abbey Gate!“ among other things, in a short outburst. Nikoy was reportedly charged with a misdemeanor.
A man who stood up during Biden's speech and yelled at the president was taken from the House of Representatives. The man was sitting in the gallery of the chamber. At one point he yelled, „U.S. Marines.“ #SOTU2024
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— The Hill (@thehill) March 8, 2024
Mr. Nikoy was a guest of Congressman Brian Mast (R-Fla.).
We are honored to have Steve Nikoi as our guest. #SOTU. He is the father of LCpl. Kareem Nikoi, who became KIA after Biden's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.@joe biden He might try to change things in Afghanistan after American lives were lost because of his incompetence, but I don't see it. pic.twitter.com/wE3uKrMlEa
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 7, 2024
USA Today reporter Ken Tran posted a photo of Nikoy in handcuffs, writing, „Protesters who interrupted Biden and shouted about the convent gates were handcuffed after being taken from the House gallery. A source was sent to me along with this photo.”
After being escorted from the House gallery, protesters who interrupted Biden's remarks and shouted about Abbeygate were handcuffed. Source sent with this photo >> pic.twitter.com/4kQFytfSOn
— Ken Tran (@kentran_) March 8, 2024
The video shows Nikoi peacefully leaving the gallery when security intervened.
Joe Biden gets heckled by Gold Star Father Steve Nikoy.
His son, Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoy, 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
Spectator reporter Matthew Foldy reported that Nikoy was charged with misdemeanor larceny.
Steve Nikoy was arrested and charged with misdemeanor protest. https://t.co/oUtZelwzJz
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) March 8, 2024
Foldy also posted an angry response sent to him by Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), a former Navy SEAL. A felony, that's not true. ” @derrickvanorden from #WI03 contacted me about this. ”
“If Gold Star families and members of Congress are arrested (@JamaalBowmanNY) It is a mistake to commit a felony and not be arrested. ” #WI03's @derickvanorden me about this https://t.co/lcP4x4X6Rv
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) March 8, 2024
Congressman Mast posted that he agreed with his guest's rant, saying, „In the past three SOTU speeches, Joe Biden has refused to name the 13 U.S. service members killed in the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.'' We couldn't support this effort any more. Please say their name!
Joe Biden has refused in his last three SOTU speeches to name the 13 US service members killed in his disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal.
We cannot support this initiative any further. Please say their name! #SOTU2024 https://t.co/eld0j0RVi5
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 8, 2024
„Sergeant Major is detaining my State of the Union guest for yelling at @POTUS in protest of Biden's incompetence resulting in his son being killed in action at the convent gates. This is your right to petition the government for redress of your grievances. That’s enough.”
Sergeant is detained for yelling at my State of the Union guest. @POTUS He protested that Biden's incompetence led to his son being killed in battle at the monastery gates.
So much for the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 8, 2024
Victims' families do not feel they are being treated fairly by Biden. On Wednesday, Christy Shamblin, the stepmother of a Marine and Nicole Gee, who also died in the Abbey Gate attack, appeared on CNN and said that Biden had not spoken to his family at all and that the White House was He said his pleas were ignored, shocking host Abby D. Phillip.
When the Gold Star mother said that Biden never contacted her family about her daughter-in-law's death, the CNN anchor walked away stunned.
CNN: „He's often referred to as the 'Commander in Chief.' He talks to families who have lost loved ones… Have you ever experienced that from him?“
Christy… pic.twitter.com/apPQiMyMSd
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 7, 2024
Full interview:
Marine Corps Sergeant Nicole Gee was killed by a suicide bomber during the Biden administration's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Her mother-in-law, Christie Shamblin, joined CHM. @Rep_McCaul upon @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 Nikoi was released from custody late last night:
Take a look: Steve Nikoy is released!!!!
thank you @RepBrianMast!!!!!! https://t.co/N2ps242yre pic.twitter.com/lKY1yyaVlO
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) March 8, 2024
And he received a hero's welcome from his fellow Gold Star families.
WATCH: Steve Nikoi's fellow Gold Star families hail him as a hero after he is released from a completely deranged arrest. @CapitolPolice ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ https://t.co/uLSjSwmpQA pic.twitter.com/MFdlrmSMfC
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) March 8, 2024
Context posted by Washington Post reporter Dan Ramose: „I can't speak to all of this. But what I can say is that not only did Steve Nikoy lose his son Kareem in the Monastery Gate tragedy, but Kareem Kareem's younger brother also died by suicide at Kareem's memorial site a year later. Context worth including.“
I can't talk about all this. But what I can tell you is that not only did Steve Nikoi lose his son Kareem in the Monastery Gate tragedy, but Kareem's younger 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