Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, recently found himself at the center of controversy due to a tattoo choice made during his Marine Corps days. Platner, who is challenging Republican Susan Collins with the backing of notable party figures such as Bernie Sanders, had a tattoo of an SS skull and bones inked on his chest, a symbol associated with the Nazi paramilitary wing.
The issue came to light when footage surfaced showing Platner, now 40 and an oyster farmer, in a drunken and shirtless state, revealing the ‘Totenkopf’ tattoo on the left side of his chest. The incident, which dates back to a night out with fellow Marines in Split, Croatia in 2007, has sparked a scandal that threatens to overshadow his political campaign.
In response to the uproar, Platner issued a statement on Wednesday, expressing regret and clarifying his ignorance of the tattoo’s significance at the time. “I absolutely would not have gone through life having this on my chest if I knew that – and to insinuate that I did is disgusting. I already had the tattoo covered with a new design,” he stated.
To further address the situation, Platner shared a video on X, displaying the new tattoo that now covers the controversial symbol. Through these actions, he hopes to put the incident behind him and refocus on his Senate campaign.
‘I absolutely would not have gone through life having this on my chest if I knew that – and to insinuate that I did is disgusting. I already had the tattoo covered with a new design,’ the Democratic candidate said.
In a video posted on X, Platner showed off the new tattoo.
‘It’s a Celtic knot with some imagery around dogs, because my wife Amy and I, love dogs,’ he said.
He went on to claim that the stories about his Nazi tattoo represent an establishment plot to torpedo his candidacy.
Graham Platner, a democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, points to a cover-up tattoo that had previously been an image recognized as a Nazi symbol, during an interview on Wednesday
A close-up of Platner’s tattoo cover up, showing a canine in what appears to be a Celtic symbol
In a video posted on X, Platner showed off the new tattoo. ‘It’s a Celtic knot with some imagery around dogs, because my wife Amy (pictured) and I, love dogs,’ he said
‘[My donors] know that this is all nonsense. It is no surprise that these stories dropped within days of DC’s chosen candidate getting into this race,’ Platner told local station WGME in an interview.
Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer favors Maine Governor Janet Mills to take on the Republican Collins but had avoided a public endorsement until Tuesday after the Nazi tattoo story broke.
Schumer declared Mills ‘the best candidate to retire Susan Collins.’
It comes after after a weekend of terrible press for Platner over his Reddit history in which he asked why ‘black people don’t tip’ and suggested that women who get raped in the Army should be careful about how much they have to drink.
‘I made that comment in 2013. I had just come out of the infantry, which was, at the time, all male. I rarely interacted professionally with women in the service,’ he told WGME.
Prior to the scandal, Platner was being touted as the Democratic blue-collar answer to MAGA.
Overflow crowds were packing his town halls — 500 in Ellsworth, 200 in Caribou — and a viral social media presence turned him into a national progressive folk hero.
Backed by Sanders and buoyed by a $3.2 million fundraising haul last quarter, Platner has stormed rural corners of the state long written off by Democrats, railing against ‘oligarchy’ and corporate greed while urging empathy for working-class voters.
Video shows an inebriated Platner, stripped down to his underwear, celebrating his brother’s wedding by singing and dancing to Miley Cyrus ‘Wrecking Ball’ On the left side of his chest, is a ‘Totenkopf’ tattoo, a symbol of the SS during Nazi Germany
Bernie Sanders has endorsed Platner to ‘fight oligarchy’
Platner, 41, is a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars — it was during one of those tours that he picked up the regrettable Nazi tattoo when they came into port in Croatia
His raw, plain-spoken style and home-grown authenticity have given him the kind of momentum that could make even five-term incumbent Collins sweat.
Platner, 41, is a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars — it was during one of those tours that he picked up the regrettable Nazi tattoo when they came into port in Croatia.
Clips of Platner interacting with voters at town halls have gone viral on social media and elicited praise from various voices in the Democratic Party.
In one video, Platner challenges a local who questioned why ‘illegals’ in the state ‘get free benefits.’
Platner responded that the voter who was asking those questions was ‘propagandized’ and ‘misinformed’ and that, all in all, people were just angry because they are taking advantage of.
Media strategist Morris Katz wrote on X that ‘if there were more Graham Platner’s, Democrats would not be the minority party.’
Jon Favreau, a former speechwriter for Barack Obama and a co-host of the Pod Save America podcast, praised Platner’s for framing economic struggles in terms of ‘very inspiring, big-sounding values,’ not ‘poll-tested lines.’
Favreau also praised Platner for sounding like a ‘leader’ with a ‘persona that is earned and not phony.’
Collins has held her U.S. Senate seat since 1997, and often splits from her Republican colleagues on key policy priorities of the Trump Administration.
She last won re-election in 2020, despite Joe Biden winning her state with 53 percent of the vote.
Collins previously reported having over $5.2 million dollars of cash on hand in her campaign coffers at the end of June.
