A man named Steve Nikoi, the father of Marine Colonel Karim Nikoi who was killed in the August 21, 2021 terrorist attack on Abbeygate at Kabul Airport during Joe Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan that killed thirteen American soldiers and approximately 170 Afghan civilians. He was arrested while trying to flee the victorious Taliban and was handcuffed by security at the Capitol on Thursday night after he teased Biden about the attack during the State of the Union address. Listeners heard Nikoi call “US Marines!” and “Monastery Gate!” Among other things in a short spree. Nikoi was reportedly charged with a misdemeanor.
A man was escorted out of the House chamber in the middle of Biden's speech after standing up and yelling at the president. The man was sitting in the hallway of the room. At one point he shouted, “US Marines.” #SOTU2024
Follow the live broadcast: https://t.co/hhsWDK6Lab pic.twitter.com/dQqh6UlIze
– The Hill (@thehill) March 8, 2024
Nikoi was a guest of Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.).
I am honored to have Steve Nikoi as my guest #Sold. He is the father of LCpl. Karim Nikoi, who was killed by 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
– Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 7, 2024
USA Today reporter Ken Tran posted a photo of Nikoi in handcuffs, saying: “The protester who interrupted Biden and shouted about Abby Gate after he was escorted out of the House gallery was handcuffed. Source sent with this photo.”
A protester who interrupted Biden and shouted about Abbygate was handcuffed after being escorted out of the House gallery. The source is sent with this image >> pic.twitter.com/4kQFytfSON
– Ken Tran (@kentran_) March 8, 2024
The video shows Nikoi leaving the exhibition safely when security intervened:
Joe Biden is being harassed by gold star father Steve Nikoi.
His son, Colonel Lance Karim Nikoi, 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 Voldy reports that Nikoi has been charged with a misdemeanor.
Steve Nikoi was arrested and charged with protesting on a misdemeanor https://t.co/oUtZelwzJz
-Matthew Foldy (@MatthewFoldy) March 8, 2024
Voldy also posted an angry response sent to him by Rep. Derek Van Orden (R-Wis.), a former U.S. Navy SEAL, “If Gold Star Families and Congressman Are Arrested [@JamaalBowmanNY] He wasn't arrested for a felony, that's not true.” #WI03's @derrickvanorden me on this.”
“If the families of a Gold Star and a congressman are arrested [@JamaalBowmanNY] “He wasn't arrested for a felony, that's not true.” #WI03's @derekvanorden Lee on this https://t.co/lcP4x4X6Rv
-Matthew Foldy (@MatthewFoldy) March 8, 2024
Rep. Mast announced his approval of his guest's outburst, saying: “In the last three SOTU speeches, Joe Biden has refused to mention the names of the 13 American soldiers killed by his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. I could not support this effort more. Say their names!”
In his last three speeches at SOTU, Joe Biden refused to mention the names of the 13 American soldiers killed during his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
I couldn't support this effort more. Say their names! #SOTU2024 https://t.co/eld0j0RVi5
– Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 8, 2024
The families of the dead do not feel that Biden treated them fairly. On Wednesday, Christy Champlin, mother-in-law of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, who was also killed in the Abbeygate attack, appeared on CNN, shocking host Abby De Phillippe by telling her that Biden had not spoken to her family at all and that the White House had ignored their pleas.
The CNN anchor was stunned when the Gold Star mother said Biden never reached out to her family about her daughter-in-law's death.
CNN: “He's often called 'general counsel.' He actually talks to families who have lost loved ones… Did you sense that from him?”
Christy… pic.twitter.com/apPQiMyMSd
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 7, 2024
Full interview:
Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee was killed by a suicide bomber during the Biden administration's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Her mother-in-law, Christy Champlin, 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
