During a recent trip to his hometown in Scranton, Pennsylvania, President Joe Biden paid tribute to his uncle, Lt. Ambrose Finnegan, who lost his life in World War II. While standing before a war memorial, Biden touched on his uncle’s name and shared a family story about his death. According to Biden, his uncle’s plane had crashed in New Guinea and he was supposedly devoured by cannibals there.
However, the official agency for American prisoners of war and missing persons has indicated that Lt. Finnegan’s plane “crashed at sea” off the coast of New Guinea. Despite this discrepancy between the president’s story and official records, the White House defended Biden by stating that he was simply trying to honor soldiers and veterans by sharing his uncle’s story.
In response to criticism from Republicans who seized on this misrepresentation as evidence of the president’s alleged cognitive decline, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre clarified that Biden’s uncle did indeed die in a plane crash at sea, not as a result of cannibals as suggested by the president. She emphasized the emotional significance of the moment for the president and how it was intended to show support for veterans and contrast with Trump’s alleged denigration of soldiers who died in combat.
Despite this incident, it is clear that Biden holds deep respect for those who have served their country and is committed to honoring their sacrifices. Whether or not his family story was embellished with factual inaccuracies, its underlying message remains one of gratitude and appreciation for our military heroes.
