In a scathing rebuke, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape criticized President Joe Biden for falsely suggesting that his uncle was consumed by New Guinea natives during World War II. Marape condemned the President's remarks, stating that his nation did not deserve to be labeled as "cannibals." This incident may potentially strain US relations with Papua New Guinea, a key diplomatic ally.

The controversy unfolded when Biden made the inaccurate claims during his visit to the battleground state of Pennsylvania on April 17. Speaking at a war memorial in Scranton, the President twice implied that tribesmen had feasted on the remains of his uncle, Army Air Corps aviator Ambrose Finnegan. However, records from the Pentagon's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency confirm that Finnegan's plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean due to engine failure.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, in an attempt to clarify the situation, acknowledged that Biden's uncle lost his life in a military aircraft crash near New Guinea, but she chastised reporters for making light of the tragedy. Fox News reporter Peter Doocy questioned the President's false assertions and called it a "bad way to go."

Following the incident, PM Marape emphasized that the US had not yet cleaned up the wreckage it left behind during World War II, causing ongoing fear and danger for Papua New Guinea residents, who live with the threat of detonated bombs from the war. Marape called attention to the scattered remains of WWII, including the plane that had carried President Biden's uncle.

While there were cannibalistic tribes in the region historically, present-day residents of Papua New Guinea criticized Biden for speculating that his uncle would have been seen as a "good meal" to tribesmen. Michael Kabuni, a political science lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea, expressed disbelief at the President's comments, while Governor Allan Bird of East Sepik province found it more comical than offensive.

This is not the first time Biden has made false claims about family tragedies and personal history; he has faced criticism for his earlier instances of plagiarism and dishonesty during his failed 1988 presidential campaign.

The fallout from Biden's false claims and the subsequent rebuke by PM Marape highlight the importance of accurate historical facts and the need for sensitivity when discussing sensitive topics. The incident serves as a reminder that leaders should exercise caution and ensure their statements are supported by evidence to avoid misinformation and potential diplomatic fallout.