State of the Union heckler was father of Marine killed in Afghanistan withdrawal

March 8, 2024

Karah Rucker, Anchor/Reporter

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A heckler in the crowd interrupted President Biden’s State of the Union Address on March 7. When Biden said “America is safer today than when I took office,” a Gold Star father invited to be at the State of the Union yelled back “United States Marines” in reference to his son who died in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.

The heckler was identified as Steven Nikoui. His son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, was stationed in Afghanistan as the U.S. announced a sudden withdrawal from the region.

The Kabul airport turned to chaos in the days following the announcement. Thousands of people tried to flee as the Taliban took control.

On Aug. 26, 2021, a suicide bomb outside the airport gates wounded hundreds. The blast killed around 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members — including Kareem Nikoui.

Steve Nikoui, the father of fallen Marine LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, was my guest to #SOTU2024.

He was arrested because he cried out to @JoeBiden to remember his son.

Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success! pic.twitter.com/m8Y0sUPLY6
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 8, 2024

Steven Nikoui was invited by Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., to be in attendance at the State of the Union. Ahead of the speech, Mast wrote why he wanted Nikoui to be there.

“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 posted on X.

Guests are not allowed to be a disruption inside the Capitol building. Nikoui was asked to stop by Capitol Police but he continued. Nikoui was escorted out, arrested and charged with a misdemeanor.

Tags: Afghanistan, Capitol Police, Joe Biden, Kabul, Marine Corps, State of the Union

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The heckler was identified as Steven Nikoui. His son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, was stationed in Afghanistan as the U.S. announced a sudden withdrawal from the region.

The Kabul airport turned to chaos in the days following the announcement. Thousands of people tried to flee as the Taliban took control.

On Aug. 26, 2021, a suicide bomb outside the airport gates wounded hundreds. The blast killed around 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members — including Kareem Nikoui.

Steve Nikoui, the father of fallen Marine LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, was my guest to #SOTU2024.

He was arrested because he cried out to @JoeBiden to remember his son.

Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success! pic.twitter.com/m8Y0sUPLY6
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) March 8, 2024

Steven Nikoui was invited by Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., to be in attendance at the State of the Union. Ahead of the speech, Mast wrote why he wanted Nikoui to be there.

“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 posted on X.

Guests are not allowed to be a disruption inside the Capitol building. Nikoui was asked to stop by Capitol Police but he continued. Nikoui was escorted out, arrested and charged with a misdemeanor.