President Joe Biden has come under scrutiny for making false claims about his uncle's death during World War II and repeating a debunked hoax about former President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, Biden told a story twice about his uncle, Ambrose J. Finnegan, being shot down and possibly eaten by cannibals in New Guinea. However, military records contradict Biden's account.
According to the Pentagon's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Finnegan died on May 14, 1944, when the Army Air Forces plane he was a passenger on crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the northern coast of New Guinea. The cause was listed as "unknown reasons," with no mention of hostile action or cannibals. Three crew members were lost in the crash, while one survivor was rescued.
Biden first made the claim about his uncle while speaking to reporters at the airport in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He repeated the story later that day during a speech to the United Steelworkers in Pittsburgh. The president used his uncle's supposed fate to contrast with reports that Trump had referred to fallen American soldiers as "suckers" and "losers" - a claim that Trump has vehemently denied.
Why this matters: The president's repeated false claims and inaccurate statements raise concerns about his credibility and fitness for office. As the nation's highest elected official, the president's words carry significant weight and influence, making it crucial that the information conveyed is factual and truthful.
When questioned about the discrepancy between Biden's story and the official records, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the president. She stated that Biden was "proud of his uncle's service" and was highlighting his story to make the case for honoring the "sacred commitment" to equip and care for those sent to war. However, Jean-Pierre did not directly address the inaccuracy of Biden's claims about the circumstances of his uncle's death.
This is not the first time Biden has made questionable claims that are easily disproven. He has previously exaggerated his academic record and claimed to be the first in his family to go to college, which contradicts his own statements. Biden's tendency to make unsubstantiated claims has been called out by mainstream media outlets, raising questions about his truthfulness and reliability as a leader.
In response to Biden's false claims, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that "2nd Lt. Ambrose J. Finnegan Jr. died on May 14, 1944, when the Army Air Forces A-20G Havoc bomber he was a passenger on crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The plane encountered engine trouble shortly after taking off from Saidor Airfield on a reconnaissance mission." The spokesperson added that Finnegan's remains were never recovered, but there was no indication of any encounter with cannibals.
Key Takeaways
- Biden falsely claimed his uncle was shot down and eaten by cannibals in WWII.
- Military records show Biden's uncle died in a plane crash, not from hostile action.
- Biden's repeated false claims raise concerns about his credibility and fitness for office.
- White House defended Biden but did not address the inaccuracy of his claims.
- Biden has a history of making questionable claims that are easily disproven.
/trim-feed/media/agency_attachments/viQLsaaKO7lGeHnDO2Yi.png)
Biden Repeats False Claims About Uncle's WWII Death and Trump's Alleged Comments
President Biden's false claims about his uncle's WWII death raise concerns about his credibility, as military records contradict his story of cannibals.
Biden Repeats False Claims About Uncle's WWII Death and Trump's Alleged Comments
President Joe Biden has come under scrutiny for making false claims about his uncle's death during World War II and repeating a debunked hoax about former President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, Biden told a story twice about his uncle, Ambrose J. Finnegan, being shot down and possibly eaten by cannibals in New Guinea. However, military records contradict Biden's account.
According to the Pentagon's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Finnegan died on May 14, 1944, when the Army Air Forces plane he was a passenger on crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the northern coast of New Guinea. The cause was listed as "unknown reasons," with no mention of hostile action or cannibals. Three crew members were lost in the crash, while one survivor was rescued.
Biden first made the claim about his uncle while speaking to reporters at the airport in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He repeated the story later that day during a speech to the United Steelworkers in Pittsburgh. The president used his uncle's supposed fate to contrast with reports that Trump had referred to fallen American soldiers as "suckers" and "losers" - a claim that Trump has vehemently denied.
Why this matters: The president's repeated false claims and inaccurate statements raise concerns about his credibility and fitness for office. As the nation's highest elected official, the president's words carry significant weight and influence, making it crucial that the information conveyed is factual and truthful.
When questioned about the discrepancy between Biden's story and the official records, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the president. She stated that Biden was "proud of his uncle's service" and was highlighting his story to make the case for honoring the "sacred commitment" to equip and care for those sent to war. However, Jean-Pierre did not directly address the inaccuracy of Biden's claims about the circumstances of his uncle's death.
This is not the first time Biden has made questionable claims that are easily disproven. He has previously exaggerated his academic record and claimed to be the first in his family to go to college, which contradicts his own statements. Biden's tendency to make unsubstantiated claims has been called out by mainstream media outlets, raising questions about his truthfulness and reliability as a leader.
In response to Biden's false claims, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that "2nd Lt. Ambrose J. Finnegan Jr. died on May 14, 1944, when the Army Air Forces A-20G Havoc bomber he was a passenger on crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The plane encountered engine trouble shortly after taking off from Saidor Airfield on a reconnaissance mission." The spokesperson added that Finnegan's remains were never recovered, but there was no indication of any encounter with cannibals.
Key Takeaways