"Did My Uncle Get Eaten by Cannibals in This Country During WWII?"... Biden's Gaffe Controversy

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister: "Clear Away War Debris"

U.S. President Joe Biden is embroiled in controversy after making remarks suggesting that his uncle, who fought in World War II, was eaten by cannibals in the South Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea.

President Joe Biden of the United States. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd (local time), CBS News reported that Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape expressed strong regret over Biden's remarks. Earlier, Biden mentioned his late uncle, the late Second Lieutenant Ambrose Finnegan, who served as an Army Air Corps pilot during World War II, during a speech at the Pennsylvania War Memorial last week. Biden said, "The plane my uncle was on was attacked by enemy forces and crashed in Papua New Guinea," adding, "Because there were many cannibals at the crash site, the body was never found." This can be interpreted to mean that his uncle's body was eaten by cannibals.

As controversy over President Biden's remarks grew, the White House moved to contain the situation. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, "President Biden was speaking about the bravery of his uncle and other veterans who gave their lives on the front lines." However, Prime Minister Marape ultimately expressed strong displeasure with Biden's comments. He said, "Biden may have misspoken, but our country should not be treated this way," emphasizing, "World War II was not caused by our people."

He continued, "In Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, there are numerous World War II fallen soldiers' remains, damaged military aircraft, and warships scattered, including the plane that President Biden's uncle was on. Our people live in daily fear of unexploded ordnance from World War II detonating and causing death," and demanded the U.S. "search for the remains of fallen soldiers left in the jungles of Papua New Guinea and clear the remnants of war."