Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Criticizes Biden for Controversial ‘Cannibals’ Comment

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea has responded to President Joe Biden’s recent statement regarding “cannibals” on the island in relation to his uncle’s death during World War II.

During a visit to the United Steelworkers headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa., Biden mentioned the death of his uncle, Ambrose Finnegan, a reconnaissance pilot during World War II.

Biden stated, “He got shot down in New Guinea, and they never found the body because there used to be a lot of cannibals in that part of New Guinea.”

Prime Minister James Marape released a statement on Sunday expressing disappointment in Biden’s remarks and emphasized that Papua New Guinea should not be labeled in such a way.

Marape mentioned that the remains of WWII soldiers are scattered all over PNG and urged the United States to retrieve as many remains as possible, including those of servicemen like Ambrose Finnegan.