Biden Sparks Outrage in Papua New Guinea Over Cannibal Claim

President Joe Biden has caused an uproar in Papua New Guinea after suggesting that his uncle was killed and eaten by cannibals in the country following a plane crash during World War II. In a recent speech, Biden claimed that his uncle, Ambrose J. Finnegan, who served in the Army Air Corps, died when his plane went down in Papua New Guinea and that "the body was never recovered because there were a lot of cannibals there." "He got shot down in a place called Papua New Guinea," Biden said. "They never found his body. Somewhere in New Guinea, because there were a lot of cannibals there."

The president's remarks have been met with fierce criticism from Papua New Guinea's leaders. Prime Minister James Marape denounced Biden's comments, stating that his country does not deserve to be characterized as "man-eaters." Marape acknowledged that while Biden's statement may have been a "slip of the tongue," it was nonetheless offensive. "We do not deserve this label," Marape said. "I call on the U.S. to find the remains of their war victims in the jungles of Papua New Guinea and take them back home."

According to U.S. military records, Finnegan's plane crashed into the ocean off the coast of New Guinea in 1944 due to mechanical failure or running out of fuel. Only one crew member survived, while Finnegan and the others sank with the aircraft. The Defense POW MIA Accounting Agency confirmed these details, contradicting Biden's account of his uncle being killed by cannibals on land.

Why this matters: Biden's gaffe has strained relations with a key strategic ally in the Indo-Pacific region at a time when the U.S. is seeking to counter China's growing influence. The incident highlights the importance of accurate and sensitive communication by world leaders to maintain strong diplomatic ties.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended Biden's remarks, describing them as an "emotional moment" while the president was commemorating his fallen relatives. However, critics argue that the comment expresses prejudice against the people of Papua New Guinea. Prime Minister Marape has called on the U.S. to assist in the search and cleanup of unexploded ordnance and other war remnants that still litter the island nation. "The Second World War was not the work of my people," Marape said. "We were needlessly dragged into a conflict that was not our fault."

Key Takeaways

• Biden claimed his uncle was killed and eaten by PNG cannibals in WWII
• PNG PM Marape condemned the claim, calling it offensive and untrue
• US military records show Biden's uncle died in a plane crash at sea
• Biden's gaffe strains US-PNG relations amid China's regional influence
• Marape called for US help in clearing WWII ordnance from PNG