WASHINGTON, DC- A Gold Star Dad was arrested after “disrupting” Biden’s State of the Union address last week.
Steve Nakoui, a 51-year-old from California, attended the State of the Union address as a guest of Florida Representative Brian Mast.
Nakoui’s son, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20-years-old, was a Marine based at Camp Pendleton. He was one of thirteen US service members that were killed by an explosive device in Kabul, Afghanistan during the Biden administration’s botched withdrawal from the country.
About an hour into Biden’s speech, Nikoui began shouting at Biden. CBS8 reported that he first shouted “United States Marines,” followed by “Remember Abbey Gate.”
Abbey Gate is the gate at the Kabul airport where Nikoui’s son and twelve other service members lost their lives.
The President briefly paused his speech, but continued as Capitol Police escorted Nikoui out of the gallery.
Capitol Police released the following statement after removing Nikoui: “Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the house galleries and was arrested. Disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is illegal.”
In August of 2023, California Congressman Darrell Issa hosted a Congressional forum in Escondido, California, the first of its kind. The forum was specifically for the Gold Star families of the 13 servicemembers killed in the Afghanistan withdrawal.
In an interview with CBS8 following the forum, Nikoui said, “They want to avoid it. They don’t want to give us any answers. They want to sweep it under the rug basically.”
While Biden has referred to the explosion as a “horrific terrorist attack,” those in attendance at the congressional forum last summer “pushed for answers and demanded President Biden take responsibility.”
Many agree with the sentiments of the families and have also been calling on Biden to take responsibility for the lives lost.
Congressman Issa issued a press release following the State of the Union and Nikoui’s comments, which read, “Filled with pointing fingers and placing blame, President Biden’s SOTU address was a defensive and divisive speech typical of a White House unable to acknowledge their failures or accept any responsibility for the disasters on their watch.
"Last night did feature one poignant speaker – but it wasn’t the president. My friend and California Gold Star father Steve Nakoui’s direct call for accountability reminded the entire nation what the President wants everyone to forget – 13 U.S. servicemembers were lost at the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan in the chaotic and disastrous withdrawal for which Biden alone is responsible.
"The Gold Star families in attendance last night have every right to be angry with this president and his administration as it has worked far harder to cover up and turn the page on its failures in Afghanistan than to tell the truth and make this right with these families. The families continue their mission: accountability for the disastrous decisions that led ot the loss of their loved ones and to ensure it never happens again.
"This isn’t over. I stand with these Gold Star families, I share their anger and frustration, and I will continue the work toward the accountability they deserve.”
Steve Nikoui was charged with a misdemeanor for his comments during the President’s speech.
The names of the 13 servicemembers that passed in the August 26, 2021 Abbey Gate bombing are:
Steve Nakoui, a 51-year-old from California, attended the State of the Union address as a guest of Florida Representative Brian Mast.
Nakoui’s son, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20-years-old, was a Marine based at Camp Pendleton. He was one of thirteen US service members that were killed by an explosive device in Kabul, Afghanistan during the Biden administration’s botched withdrawal from the country.
About an hour into Biden’s speech, Nikoui began shouting at Biden. CBS8 reported that he first shouted “United States Marines,” followed by “Remember Abbey Gate.”
Abbey Gate is the gate at the Kabul airport where Nikoui’s son and twelve other service members lost their lives.
The President briefly paused his speech, but continued as Capitol Police escorted Nikoui out of the gallery.
Capitol Police released the following statement after removing Nikoui: “Our officers warned him to stop and when he did not, the man was removed from the house galleries and was arrested. Disrupting the Congress and demonstrating in the Congressional Buildings is illegal.”
In August of 2023, California Congressman Darrell Issa hosted a Congressional forum in Escondido, California, the first of its kind. The forum was specifically for the Gold Star families of the 13 servicemembers killed in the Afghanistan withdrawal.
In an interview with CBS8 following the forum, Nikoui said, “They want to avoid it. They don’t want to give us any answers. They want to sweep it under the rug basically.”
While Biden has referred to the explosion as a “horrific terrorist attack,” those in attendance at the congressional forum last summer “pushed for answers and demanded President Biden take responsibility.”
Many agree with the sentiments of the families and have also been calling on Biden to take responsibility for the lives lost.
Congressman Issa issued a press release following the State of the Union and Nikoui’s comments, which read, “Filled with pointing fingers and placing blame, President Biden’s SOTU address was a defensive and divisive speech typical of a White House unable to acknowledge their failures or accept any responsibility for the disasters on their watch.
"Last night did feature one poignant speaker – but it wasn’t the president. My friend and California Gold Star father Steve Nakoui’s direct call for accountability reminded the entire nation what the President wants everyone to forget – 13 U.S. servicemembers were lost at the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan in the chaotic and disastrous withdrawal for which Biden alone is responsible.
"The Gold Star families in attendance last night have every right to be angry with this president and his administration as it has worked far harder to cover up and turn the page on its failures in Afghanistan than to tell the truth and make this right with these families. The families continue their mission: accountability for the disastrous decisions that led ot the loss of their loved ones and to ensure it never happens again.
"This isn’t over. I stand with these Gold Star families, I share their anger and frustration, and I will continue the work toward the accountability they deserve.”
Steve Nikoui was charged with a misdemeanor for his comments during the President’s speech.
The names of the 13 servicemembers that passed in the August 26, 2021 Abbey Gate bombing are:
- Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo
- Sgt. Nicole L. Gee
- SSgt. Darin T. Hoover
- Cpl. Hunter Lopez
- Cpl. Daegan W. Page
- Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez
- LCpl. David L. Espinoza
- LCpl. Jared M. Schmitz
- LCpl. Rylee J. McCollum
- LCpl. Dylan R. Merola
- LCpl. Kareem M. Nikoui
- HM3 Maxton W. Soviak
- SSgt. Ryan C. Knauss
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Comments
2024-03-10T18:56+0530 | Comment by: Francis
I a Gold Star and attacking the President is not the way to go. He doesn't tell the field officer how to run their unit. Any loss of a American Soldier or citizen is sad. They are the best we have! The blame should go to the killers who killed our soldiers. Instead of blaming one person blame this world that's full of hatred. Remember to pray for our Troops who are in harms way daily. God bless our troops and God bless the USA.