Maine Democratic Senate Hopeful Addresses Controversy Over Tattoo and Past Comments
Graham Platner, a 41-year-old Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, recently found himself defending against accusations of Nazi sympathies after a video revealed a controversial tattoo on his chest. The former U.S. Marine, who hopes to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in the 2026 midterm elections, appeared in a decade-old video singing Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball” at his sister-in-law’s wedding while wearing only his underwear. The footage, which Platner’s own campaign team provided to the Pod Save America podcast, showed a skull and crossbones tattoo that bears resemblance to the Totenkopf symbol—an emblem adopted by the Nazi SS and particularly associated with concentration camp guards. The tattoo’s revelation comes at a critical moment for Democrats, who view Collins as vulnerable in a state that supported Kamala Harris by approximately seven points in the 2024 presidential election. The party hopes to gain control of the Senate in 2026, which would significantly limit President Donald Trump’s ability to advance his policy agenda.
During his interview with former Obama spokesperson Tommy Vietor on Pod Save America, Platner explained the tattoo’s origin, stating he got it in Split, Croatia, in 2007 while on leave with fellow Marines. “We got very inebriated and we did what Marines on liberty do and we decided to go get a tattoo,” Platner recounted. He emphasized that the skull and crossbones is “a pretty standard military thing” and that he selected the design from the tattoo parlor’s wall display. The candidate revealed that his team proactively shared the footage after learning “somebody was shopping the idea that I was a secret Nazi with a hidden Nazi tattoo” as part of opposition research. The clip of this exchange quickly went viral after being shared on social media, garnering over 1.2 million views. Platner also pointed out that he had never tried to hide the tattoo and had passed security clearances for the Army National Guard after leaving the Marines, as well as for the State Department when he served on the security detail for the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan.
This controversy follows closely on the heels of another scandal involving Platner’s past Reddit posts, which CNN reported on earlier in the month. In these now-deleted comments dating back to 2021, Platner allegedly wrote that he “became older and became a communist” and suggested that white rural Americans were indeed “as racist or stupid as Trump thinks.” Additional posts attributed to him by various publications contained controversial statements about Black people’s tipping habits and comments about sexual assault that some found victim-blaming. When questioned about these posts by Politico, Platner dismissed them as “dumb jokes” and described himself as “a small business owner, a Marine Corps veteran, and a retired s*** poster,” denying any genuine socialist leanings. Despite receiving an endorsement from progressive stalwart Bernie Sanders, these revelations could significantly impact his standing with Democratic primary voters.
The tattoo controversy has already cost Platner support within his campaign. Genevieve McDonald, his former political director who had previously resigned over the Reddit posts, commented on social media: “Graham has an antisemitic tattoo on his chest. He’s not an idiot, he’s a military history buff. Maybe he didn’t know it when he got it, but he got it years ago and he should have had it covered up because he knows damn well what it means.” Her critique highlights the skepticism some feel about Platner’s explanation, suggesting that someone knowledgeable about military history would recognize the symbol’s problematic associations. McDonald also criticized the campaign’s decision to release the footage themselves “to some podcast bros,” along with the video of him “shirtless and drunk” at a wedding, as an attempt to preemptively control the narrative.
The Anti-Defamation League identifies the Totenkopf as a symbol adopted by the SS, particularly associated with the SS-Totenkopfverbande units responsible for guarding concentration camps during the Holocaust. The U.S. military maintains policies that screen for extremist, racist, and sexist tattoos, adding another dimension to Platner’s defense. In responding to the accusation, Platner emphatically stated, “I am not a secret Nazi,” and suggested that his Reddit comment history would demonstrate his opposition to Nazism, antisemitism, and racism, describing himself as “a life-long opponent” of such ideologies. However, the juxtaposition of this defense with his previously revealed controversial comments about race creates a complex picture for voters to evaluate.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, the impact of these revelations on Platner’s Senate campaign remains uncertain. Democrats view Collins’ seat as a potential pickup opportunity that could help them secure Senate control, making any controversy surrounding their candidate particularly concerning for the party. The situation illustrates the increasing scrutiny candidates face over their past statements and personal choices in the digital age, where old social media posts and personal videos can quickly become campaign liabilities. Platner’s ability to navigate these controversies and maintain credibility with Democratic primary voters will likely determine whether he advances to challenge Collins in what promises to be a closely watched contest with national implications for the balance of power in Washington.
