During a visit to his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Joe Biden honored the memory of his uncle Lt. Ambrose Finnegan by touching his fingertips to the engraved name on a war memorial. However, when he shared a family story about his uncle supposedly being eaten by cannibals in New Guinea during World War II, it caused some confusion among the public.
Official documents show that Lt. Finnegan actually died in a plane crash at sea, which contradicted Biden’s family tale. This discrepancy led some to question the president’s cognitive abilities and prompted the Republican opposition to make fun of his latest story.
Despite the criticism, the White House defended Joe Biden and clarified that he was simply paying tribute to soldiers and veterans by sharing his uncle’s story. The president aimed to show support for fallen soldiers and differentiate himself from his predecessor Donald Trump, who allegedly disrespected them.
The confusion surrounding Biden’s family tale did not deter him from focusing on honoring his uncle’s memory during his visit to Scranton. His intention was to pay tribute to those who made sacrifices for their country and contrast himself with Trump’s perceived lack of respect towards fallen soldiers.