Skip to main content
BoomMag: Readers and Fans
Advertise With Us

WLT Report WLT Report

Advertise With Us
We may receive compensation from affiliate partners for some links on this site. Read our full Disclosure here.

No Regrets: Gold Star Dad Refuses To Apologize For Heckling Biden At SOTU Address

One of the invited guests at Thursday’s State of the Union address was the father of a service member killed in Afghanistan as the Biden administration conducted its botched pull-out of U.S. troops.

At one point, he shouted at President Joe Biden and was subsequently put in handcuffs. He is now facing criminal charges and could spend time in prison for his emotional outburst.

According to News Nation:

The father of a marine who died in the Kabul International Airport bombing during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan faces charges after interrupting President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday night.

Steve Nikoui, 51, father of Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, who was just 20 years old when he was killed, was arrested Thursday after shouting “Abbey Gate” and “United States Marines” during Biden’s speech.

The two phrases were references to the deadly bombing in which his son, 12 other American service members and 170 Afghan civilians were killed.

The United States Capitol Police charged Steve Nikoui with a misdemeanor that carries a maximum fine of $500 and up to 90 days in prison.

His arrest didn’t sit well with many social media users … including the lawmaker who invited him:

 

ADVERTISEMENT

But Nikoui made it clear that he has no regrets.

As the Daily Wire reported:

Nikoui blames the Biden administration for his son’s death.

“They were told to leave 2,500 troops there. 2,000 troops could have manned Bagram and then 500 extra to help. And that was in place in the agreement,” he explained, referencing a withdrawal agreement made by former President Donald Trump. “But [Biden] took it to something like 136 troops. If they would have followed Trump’s agreement, my son would be alive.”

“That’s what America doesn’t know,” Nikoui said. “That [Biden] actually didn’t follow the agreement.”

At a number of points during a lengthy conversation on Zoom, Nikoui pauses, however, to explain how important his Christian faith is to him, and how it compels him to forgive.

“Even if Biden is the man who I believe killed my kid, for lack of a better phrase, my religion commands me that I have to forgive him,” he says.

But still, he would like to see the administration held accountable for what he believes were serious errors in judgment that left U.S. troops in Afghanistan vulnerable. And for that reason, no matter what happens with his misdemeanor charge, he doesn’t regret speaking up.

“I don’t think I disrespected anyone,” he tells me before taking a deep breath, struggling to speak without breaking down. “I don’t think I dishonored my son.”

Here’s some more coverage of the incident and its aftermath:


 

Join the conversation!

Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!

log in

Forgot password?

reset password

Back to
log in
Leave a comment
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
We invite you to become a WLT Report insider. Sign up for our free email newsletter, and we'll make sure to keep you in the loop.