Here’s What Gold Star Dad Steve Nikoui Shouted at Biden Before Getting Arrested During State of the Union
Gold Star Father Arrested After Heckling Biden During SOTU Gets Freed
Steve Nikoui, 51, shouted at President Biden during his State of the Union address Thursday night. He was then arrested over the disruption, but appeared to be freed by Friday morning.
“Abbey Gate!” Nikoui yelled down at the president on Thursday.
“Second Battalion, First Marines!” he continued as Biden was in the middle of saying, “America’s safer today than when I took office.”
Nikoui was invited to the speech by Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL). “I am honored to have Steve Nikoui as my guest to the State of the Union,” Mast shared in a social media post. “Joe Biden may try to turn the page on Afghanistan after his incompetence cost American lives, but NOT ON MY WATCH.”
Capitol Police escorted the heckler out of the chamber around 10:15 p.m and took him into custody.
Police said Nikoui was arrested for violating the D.C. Code after continuing to yell at the president despite officers warning him to stop.
“This is a routine charge on Capitol Hill,” a U.S. Capitol Police spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
“People who illegally demonstrate/disrupt Congress typically are released after they pay a $50 fine, so the misdemeanor charge is resolved without going to court,” the source continued.
Nikoui, father of Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, who was killed by a suicide bomber during Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal, was freed from custody in the early hours on Friday morning.
“WE ARE WAITING FOR THEM TO FREE KAREEM NIKOUI’S FATHER, STEVE NIKOUI, WHO WAS ARRESTED FOR LITERALLY NO REASON,” Matthew Foldi, a political reporter at The Spectator, shared in an post to X around 1AM.
Approximately 9 hours later, Foldi sent out an update, saying “STEVE NIKOUI IS FREED!!!! Thank you @RepBrianMast!!!!!!!”
WATCH: STEVE NIKOUI IS FREED!!!!
— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) March 8, 2024
Thank you @RepBrianMast!!!!!!! https://t.co/N2ps242yre pic.twitter.com/lKY1yyaVlO