Biden hints at the possibility that his uncle may have been consumed by cannibals during WWII, seemingly taking aim at Trump | US News

Joe Biden shared a story about his uncle possibly being eaten by cannibals after his plane was shot down during World War II, while also criticizing Donald Trump’s ability to serve as commander in chief again.

The US president paid tribute to his late uncle Ambrose J Finnegan’s service at a war memorial near his hometown in Pennsylvania.

Mr Biden told reporters that his uncle flew reconnaissance flights over New Guinea in a single-engine plane and got shot down in an area with cannibals, with his body never being recovered. However, the US defense department has no records of cannibalism being involved in his uncle’s death.

Military records indicate that his uncle died in a plane crash due to engine failure in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of New Guinea in May 1944.

During his visit, Mr Biden followed a family tradition of saying three Hail Marys at the gravesite. He contrasted his family’s tradition of sacrifice with alleged comments made by Mr Trump about fallen service members.

While Mr Trump has denied making those remarks, Mr Biden expressed that he doesn’t believe Mr Trump deserves to be commander in chief, especially for his son and uncle.

Mr Biden’s son Beau, who passed away in 2015, served in Iraq and his death has been linked to military burn pits. The president emphasized the importance of honoring veterans and taking care of them and their families.

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White House spokesman Andrew Bates expressed pride in the president’s uncle’s service, mentioning his tragic death in a military plane crash near New Guinea. He reiterated the importance of honoring veterans and debunked the idea that veterans are “suckers” or “losers”.

Mr Bates did not address the cannibalism claim made by Mr Biden.