 "Is Biden's story of cannibals eating his uncle an addition to his long list of verbal gaffes?")
At 81 years young, United States president Joe Biden brings more than just political experience to the table, as he embarks on his quest for a second term in the White House. With a penchant for off-the-cuff remarks and a knack for leaving audiences scratching their heads, Biden’s verbal escapades have become as much a part of his legacy as his decades-long career in politics.
We take a look at a few of the US commander-in-chief’s odd statements over the years:
The cannibal conundrum
During a speech at the United Steelworkers Headquarters in Pittsburgh on Wednesday (17 April), Biden shared a peculiar anecdote about his uncle Ambrose Finnegan’s demise during World War II.
Biden suggested that his uncle’s remains were never recovered because “there used to be a lot of cannibals” in the region of New Guinea. Despite conflicting accounts from official sources, Biden’s colorful recollection added yet another layer of intrigue to his repertoire of verbal gaffes.
Biden recalled, “And my uncle, they called him – Ambrose, they called him Bosie… and he became an Army Air Corps, before the Air Force came along, he flew those single engine planes as reconnaissance over war zones. And he got shot down in New Guinea, and they never found the body because there used to be a lot of cannibals – for real – in that part of the New Guinea.”
The US president also told the story before departing Scranton, Pennsylvania, earlier in the day.
According to CNN, there was, in fact, documented cannibalism in the region in the mid-20th century.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHowever, analysts in Papua New Guinea said that the president’s claims were unsubstantiated and poorly judged “The Melanesian group of people, who Papua New Guinea is part of, are a very proud people,” Michael Kabuni, a lecturer in political science at the University of Papua New Guinea was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
“And they would find this kind of categorisation very offensive. Not because someone says ‘oh there used to be cannibalism in PNG’ – yes, we know that, that’s a fact.
God Save the Queen: A royal misstep
In a bewildering moment during a speech in June 2023 on gun control at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, Biden left onlookers perplexed with a sudden proclamation: “God save the Queen, man.”
BIDEN: “God save the Queen!"
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 16, 2023
He’s in Connecticut. And the Queen is dead…
pic.twitter.com/dfJKrR595x
The cryptic statement, left journalists and White House staffers grasping for an explanation, yet none was forthcoming.
Back in January 2017, when he was vice president and certified the results of the 2016 US presidential election, he muttered, “God save the queen,” into the microphone as he adjourned US Congress.
Brewery banter by Biden
At Earth Rider Brewery in Superior, Wisconsin in January 2023, Biden left audiences bemused with a rambling speech that included phrases like “The beer brewed here, it is used to make the brew beered here.”
He then added, “Ooh, Earth Rider, thanks for the Great Lakes. I wonder why…” but trailed off as laughter from the audience drowned out his words.
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Social media erupted with commentary on Biden’s delivery, with some questioning his cognitive acuity while others chalked it up to his unique style.
One Colin Rugg wrote, “JUST IN: President Biden sounds like he is speaking a different language while giving a speech at the Earth Rider Brewery in Superior, Wisconsin. Don’t worry… The media has assured us that he is sharper than ever!”
Another user commented, “Biden is having a VERY tough time reading from his giant teleprompter today." Donald Trump’s campaign Twitter account “Team Trump” also chimed in, stating, “COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED JOE BIDEN : ‘By the way, it used to make beer brew here… it is used to make the b-brew beard here… [inaudible].’”
Cryptic message at the State of the Union address
During his 2023 State of the Union address, to Republican lawmakers, Biden injected a dose of enigma into his speech with the remark, “Lots of luck in your senior year.” Interpreted variously by allies and observers, the true meaning behind this seemingly cryptic message remained elusive, much like many of Biden’s verbal oddities.
Biden’s Vietnam presser
During a press conference in Vietnam last year in September, Biden added to his collection of perplexing remarks with a sudden declaration of bedtime plans amid questions about US-China relations .
“As a matter of fact…,” he said, “…I think it’s less likely to cause that kind of conflict.”
“And look, nobody likes having celebrated international meetings, if you don’t know what you want at the meeting. If you don’t have a game plan. He may have a game plan. He just hasn’t shared it with me,” said Biden haltingly. “But I tell you what, I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go to bed.”
His seemingly off-the-cuff remarks, coupled with moments of confusion and abrupt endings, left both social media and reporters abuzz with speculation.
The Dog-faced pony soldier?
On the campaign trail in New Hampshire back in 2020, Biden famously referred to a skeptical voter as a “lying, dog-faced pony soldier,” claiming it was a line from a John Wayne film.
Despite his insistence, no such dialogue could be traced back to the legendary actor’s repertoire, adding yet another layer of mystery to Biden’s linguistic quirks.
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As Biden’s verbal acrobatics continue to captivate and confound, one thing remains certain: his linguistic flair adds a dash of unpredictability to the political landscape. It also raises questions about his age and stamina.
In a world of scripted politics, Biden’s linguistic riddles offer a refreshing reminder of authenticity and spontaneity… at least to his supporters. After all, in the realm of presidential quirks, it’s just Biden being Biden.
With inputs from agencies
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