Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert surrounds President Biden during his State of the Union speech as he describes the death of his son, Beau Biden, a veteran of the Iraq War who succumbed to brain cancer.
Biden outlined the serious medical symptoms that US soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan endured by breathing in toxic fumes from "burn pits", adding that several soldiers "developed a cancer that made them wrapped in a flagpole." Will put in the coffin."
"You put them in. Thirteen of them," Boebert said, referring to a terrorist attack on a gate outside Kabul airport last summer.
The explosion made an immediate and loud sound inside the chamber. Biden appeared to be looking at Boebert, but continued his remarks, adding that one of those who died of cancer was "my son, Major Beau Biden." He admitted he didn't know Beau had cancer from exposure to the smoke, but said he was committed to investigating any links.
Biden then introduced Sgt.'s widow, Danielle Robinson. First Class Heather Robinson, a combat medic who was deployed "just yards from burn pits the size of football fields" and later died, and nine of the expanded Veterans Affairs coverage for respiratory cancer declare.
Boebert defended her actions in a tweet, saying she "can't keep quiet."
When Biden said flag draped coffins I couldn't stay silent. I told him directly he did it. He put 13 in there.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) March 2, 2022
Our heroic servicemen and women deserve so much better.
Boebert, a far-right member of the House Republican, drew bipartisan criticism last year when he made Islamophobic remarks about Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Min., who is a Muslim.
The president's handling of the withdrawal of all US troops from Afghanistan last summer drew bipartisan criticism, with lawmakers particularly outraged that the administration has no plans to evacuate embassy staff and Afghan allies. The attack, in which 13 members of the army were killed, came days ahead of plans for a full withdrawal from the Taliban-held country.
The Colorado Republican's outburst during the high-profile State of the Union was similar to an incident in 2009, when Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., shouted, "You lie!" Then-President Barack Obama outlines his health care plan. Wilson later apologized but then began fundraising to settle the dispute.