Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea has responded to President Biden’s comments suggesting that his uncle, a U.S. serviceman whose plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of New Guinea during World War II, may have been eaten by cannibals. Mr. Marape stated that his country does not deserve such labels and that President Biden’s remarks, though possibly unintentional, were inappropriate.
During a speech in Pittsburgh, President Biden twice implied that his uncle had been consumed by cannibals, despite no evidence to support this claim. Papua New Guinea has become an important ally of the United States, with Mr. Marape visiting the White House on two occasions.
Contrary to Mr. Biden’s account, military records show that Ambrose Finnegan, the president’s uncle, was a passenger in a plane that crashed in the Pacific Ocean due to engine failure in 1944. There is no indication that the aircraft was shot down, and no evidence of cannibalism.
President Biden’s comments were made while visiting a war memorial dedicated to Mr. Finnegan in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as part of a campaign trip. The remarks were in the context of criticizing former President Trump’s alleged disrespectful remarks towards fallen soldiers.
A White House spokesman emphasized that President Biden is proud of his uncle’s service and highlighted his story to advocate for better support for military personnel and their families. However, the spokesman did not address the inaccuracies in the president’s statements about Mr. Finnegan’s death.
In response to the controversy, Prime Minister Marape called on the United States to address the remnants of World War II in the region, including unexploded ordnance and human remains. He highlighted the ongoing fear faced by the local population due to the presence of wartime artifacts.
