Papua New Guinea leader blasts Biden for claiming his uncle was eaten by cannibals

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said Monday that he was offended by President Biden's caller comments suggesting his uncle was eaten by cannibals successful nan Oceanic federation during World War II.

Marape expressed disappointment successful a statement Monday that Biden would propose his federation was rife pinch cannibals, noting besides that Papua New Guinea was unwillingly pulled into nan world conflict successful nan 1940s. Biden's comments suggesting his uncle, Second Lt. Ambrose J. Finnegan Jr., was eaten successful Papua New Guinea, came during a reside to a steelworkers national successful Pittsburgh past week.

"President Biden’s remarks whitethorn person been a gaffe of nan tongue; however, my state does not merit to beryllium branded arsenic such," Marape said successful a statement. "World War II was not nan doing of my people; however, they were needlessly dragged into a conflict that was not their doing."

"The remains of WWII dishonesty scattered each complete PNG, including nan level that carried President Biden’s uncle," he continued. "Perhaps, fixed President Biden’s comments and nan beardown guidance from PNG and different parts of nan world, it is clip for nan USA to find arsenic galore remains of World War II successful PNG arsenic possible, including those of servicemen who mislaid their lives for illustration Ambrose Finnegan."

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Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape addresses nan media successful January. (DARRELL TOLL/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)

Marape added that Papua New Guinea citizens proceed to unrecorded successful fearfulness of progressive bombs making love backmost to nan 20th period conflict. He said nan state is littered pinch quality remains, level wrecks, vessel wrecks, tunnels and bombs from World War II.

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On Wednesday, during his reside astatine nan United Steelworkers headquarters, Biden recalled his uncle's subject work and really he flew a single-engine level for nan U.S. Army to cod reconnaissance. The president said Finnegan was gunned down successful Papua New Guinea and his assemblage was ne'er recovered, pointing to nan beingness of cannibals successful nan nation.

"And he sewage changeable down successful New Guinea, and they ne'er recovered nan assemblage because location utilized to beryllium – location were a batch of cannibals, for real, successful that portion of New Guinea," Biden said.

Biden said his uncle's assemblage was ne'er recovered "because location utilized to beryllium – location were a batch of cannibals, for real, successful that portion of New Guinea." (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

After nan comments were criticized, though, nan White House defended nan president. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Thursday that Biden made nan comments while having an "emotional moment."

"So, his uncle, who mislaid his life erstwhile nan subject craft he was connected collapsed successful nan Pacific aft taking disconnected adjacent New Guinea. The president highlighted his uncle's communicative arsenic he made nan lawsuit for honoring our ineffable committedness to equip those we nonstop to warfare and return attraction of them and their families erstwhile they travel home," Jean-Pierre said.

Meanwhile, Biden's remarks came days aft his latest telephone pinch Chinese President Xi Jinping connected April 2. Papua New Guinea has emerged arsenic a imaginable strategical state amid tensions betwixt nan U.S. and China.

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The White House didn't instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.