Man yelling 'Remember Abbey Gate' interrupts State of the Union: Who was the protester?
A protester who interrupted Thursday's State of the Union by shouting "Remember Abbey Gate" has been identified as the father of one of 13 service members killed outside the airport in Kabul on Aug. 26, 2021.
About one hour into President Joe Biden's speech, in which he drew sharp contrasts between himself and the Republican Party, the man began shouting causing Biden to pause briefly.
The heckler was identified by a Florida congressman Friday as Steve Nikoui, the father of Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, one of the service members killed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“Remember Abbey Gate! US Marines!” Nikoui shouted.
Steve Nikoui was a guest of Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), the congressman's deputy communication's director Jinwook Wong confirmed to USA TODAY Friday morning.
I am honored to have Steve Nikoui as my guest to #SOTU. He is the father of LCpl. Kareem Nikoui, who was KIA due to Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.@JoeBiden 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
Capitol Police arrested Nikoui Thursday night on a misdemeanor charge in connection to the outburst and he was released from custody at 12:30 a.m. Friday, Wong said.
Video circulating on social media Friday showed Nikoui after being released from custody, greeted by members of congress including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) inside a restaurant.
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Why did the protester shout 'Remember Abbey Gate?'
In a post on X, Mast said the father was arrested because he cried out to Biden "to remember his son."
"Joe Biden has never honored those killed at the Abby Gate and still hails the catastrophic withdrawal as a success," the congressman wrote.
Abbey Gate is a reference to a 2021 suicide bombing during the evacuation of Afghanistan.
Nikoui was handcuffed and arrested after being escorted out by security from the House gallery as seen in a photo shared with USA TODAY.
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Who was State of the Union heckler?
Nikoui and his wife, Shana Chappell, have been vocal critics of President Biden’s decisions leading up to the deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan, the office wrote in the release.
Their son was 20 years old when he died.
“Joe Biden has been trying to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but not on my watch,” Mast wrote in a statement released by his office prior to Thursday night's event. “For the last three years, Joe Biden has done nothing but tried to deflect blame as terrorists have taken hold of Afghanistan, repressed women, and killed those who supported America. I will continue to call out President Biden to remind him of the damage he has done to national security and American families.”
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
Who was Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui?
Nikoui's son joined the Marine Corps where he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines unit stationed at Camp Pendleton after graduating from high school in 2019.
He was deployed to Afghanistan where he participated in Operation Allies Refuge to evacuate U.S. citizens, American allies and others at risk and died in action with 10 other Marines, one soldier and one sailor during the withdrawal.
What is Abbey Gate?
Nikoui referred to an assault during the 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan that fatally wounded more than 170 people and 13 U.S. troops.
A suicide bomber killed Afghans who had clustered near one of the entrances to Hamid Karzai International Airport and the U.S. troops screening them.
The bomb contained 20 pounds of military-grade explosives and 5-millimeter ball bearings. The blast wounded 45 more U.S. troops, including some who suffered traumatic brain injuries.
In 2023 a U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed to USA TODAY that the Taliban killed the mastermind behind the attack.
Contributing: Janine Santucci, Tom Vanden Brook and Ken Tran.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: SOTU 'Abbey Gate' heckler identified as Steve Nikoui: Who is he?
