Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, a former Marine and oyster farmer challenging Sen. Susan Collins, has faced backlash over a chest tattoo resembling a Nazi skull and crossbones. He claims ignorance of its connotations and plans to have it removed, amid resurfaced offensive Reddit posts from his post-military years. Supporters like Sen. Bernie Sanders defend him, while critics question his awareness.
Graham Platner, 41, a political newcomer from Sullivan, Maine, announced his Senate bid earlier this year, drawing attention for his military service in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003 to 2016, oyster farming background, and left-leaning positions on healthcare and U.S.-Israel relations. His campaign gained traction with a viral video and endorsements, including from Sen. Bernie Sanders, who rallied with him last month. However, the past week has brought controversies that threaten his momentum in the 2026 race against Republican incumbent Susan Collins, one of Democrats' few pickup opportunities.
The latest issue centers on a black skull-and-crossbones tattoo Platner got nearly 20 years ago while inebriated on leave in Croatia with fellow Marines. He selected the design from a parlor wall, later joining the Army where it passed hate symbol checks during a physical exam and background screening for security clearance as a State Department contractor. In a Monday appearance on the 'Pod Save America' podcast, Platner shared a decade-old video of himself shirtless at his brother's wedding, revealing the tattoo, and stated, 'I am not a secret Nazi... lifelong opponent' to Nazism, antisemitism, and racism. He told POLITICO on Tuesday, 'It was not until I started hearing from reporters and DC insiders that I realized this tattoo resembled a Nazi symbol... I am already planning to get this removed.' The design, known as Totenkopf or 'Death's Head,' was used by the Nazi SS, per the Anti-Defamation League, and remains associated with white supremacists.
Critics, including Platner's former political director Genevieve McDonald—who resigned last week—have doubted his ignorance. McDonald wrote on Facebook, 'Maybe he didn’t know it when he got it... but he knows damn well what it means.' Jewish Insider reported an unverified claim from a 2012 acquaintance that Platner called it 'my Totenkopf.' MSNBC's Catherine Rampell tweeted, 'No skeletons in his closet, just an apparent Nazi logo on his chest,' while The Bulwark's Sam Stein added, 'Gonna be hard to erase this one, literally and figuratively.'
This follows apologies for Reddit posts from a 'dark period' after service, including a 2013 comment downplaying military sexual assault, a 2018 suggestion that violence aids social change, queries like 'Why don’t black people tip?', self-identification as a 'communist,' and 'Cops are bastards. All of them.' Platner has shared other posts condemning misogyny and homophobia in the Marines. The National Republican Senatorial Committee called him 'a communist who supports violence against Republicans... not fit for office,' per spokesperson Samantha Cantrell.
Sanders defended Platner Tuesday, saying, 'He went through a dark period... he has apologized for the stupid remarks... I’m confident that he’s going to run a great campaign and that he’s going to win.' Platner now competes in the Democratic primary against Gov. Janet Mills, who entered the race earlier this month.