The Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper and Ronny Chieng roasted President Joe Biden over his controversial suggestion that cannibals ate his uncle after a plane crash during World War II.
Biden claimed during a speech to the United Steelworkers Union in Pittsburgh that his uncle, Ambrose Finnegan, was shot down near Papua New Guinea and that his body was never recovered because “there were a lot of cannibals” in New Guinea at the time.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape released a statement responding to Biden, saying his country “does not deserve to be labeled as such.”
Marape said his nation was “dragged” into the conflict of World War II and urged Biden to “look into cleaning up these remains of WWII so the truth about missing servicemen like Ambrose Finnegan can be put to rest.”
On Tuesday, comedian Chieng said Biden was in a perfect position campaign-wise thanks to Donald Trump being caught up in his hush money trial, and he should take advantage. Biden’s comments then aired, as did Marape’s response.
“You’re going to lose the election,” Chieng flatly said into the camera to Biden.
“Look, at some point, we all get to an age when we confuse our own life story with the plot of Indiana Jones,” Klepper said.
Chieng jokingly tried to defend the comments by pointing to the diets of many Americans.
“Even if this story was true, Americans are in no position to criticize how anyone else eats, okay? These cannibals eat people…yeah, well, you know what? We eat Subway sandwiches to lose weight,” he said.
“Would a cannibal even eat people out of a wreckage? I mean, that’s like their version of eating roadkill,” Klepper added.
He added, “Biden apologized to the Papua New Guinea prime minister by inviting him to a dinner with Pete Buttigieg, which will be served over rice with balsamic reductions.”
Biden’s story about his uncle’s service led to some tense moments between White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Fox News reporter Peter Doocy as Doocy pointed out that Finnegan’s service record makes no mention of cannibals or of the claim that his plane was shot down. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency says Finnegan’s plane was forced to ditch at low altitude due to engine failure.
Jean Pierre said Biden larger comments were about “lifting up” veterans and honoring his uncle’s service. Before his talk, the president visited a World War II memorial and found his uncle’s name.
“The president had an emotional and I think a symbolic moment,” she said. “He had an opportunity as president to honor his uncle’s service in uniform. He had an opportunity to be there as president to speak to the bravery of his uncle and not just his uncle, but many U.S. service members.”
Watch above via Comedy Central.
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com