Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner faces intense scrutiny after disclosing a skull tattoo associated with Nazi SS, sparking debate over intent, military history, and campaign integrity amid a crowded primary field.
The campaign for Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate vying for a U.S. Senate seat in Maine, has been rocked by the extraordinary disclosure of a tattoo on his chest, an image widely recognized as a Nazi symbol. Platner’s revelation has opened a broader conversation about historical symbols, personal accountability, and the unforgiving nature of political opposition research.
The Tattoo and Its Troubling Origins
Platner, a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, shared details of the tattoo on the popular Pod Save America podcast. He explained that in 2007, as a 23-year-old rifleman in the Marines, he and fellow Marines got the tattoo while inebriated and on leave in Croatia. “We chose a terrifying looking skull and crossbones off the wall because we were Marines and, you know, skulls and crossbones are pretty standard military thing,” Platner recounted.
The symbol, known as a Totenkopf, or “skull” in German, was notoriously adopted by a branch of the Nazi SS. The Anti-Defamation League details the history of the Totenkopf as a hate symbol, noting its use by Hitler’s Schutzstaffel (SS), particularly the SS-Totenkopfverbände (Death’s Head Units) that administered concentration camps, marking it as a potent symbol of terror and genocide. Platner maintains he was entirely unaware of this devastating affiliation until his current Senate bid, when opposition research began circulating claims that he was a “secret Nazi.”
Platner’s Defense and Campaign Response
In response to the accusations, Platner has strongly denied any Nazi sympathies, pointing to numerous social media posts where he identifies as an antifascist and actively opposes racism. He initially announced plans to remove the tattoo, but later opted to cover it with another tattoo due to limited removal options in rural Maine. He highlighted that the tattoo had never caused issues during his military career, including when he enlisted in the Army and passed a full background check for a security clearance to join the Ambassador to Afghanistan’s security detail, both of which examine for hate symbols.
The candidate’s former campaign director, Genevieve McDonald, offered a critical perspective, stating, “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.” This public disagreement underscores the internal and external pressures facing Platner’s campaign.
A String of Controversies
The tattoo disclosure is not the first challenge for Platner’s nascent political career. It follows the recent discovery of now-deleted online statements, first reported by CNN, where he made a series of controversial remarks. These included dismissing military sexual assaults, questioning Black patrons’ gratuity habits, criticizing police officers, labeling rural white Americans as “actually” stupid and racist, and even identifying himself as a “communist” around 2021.
Platner has apologized for these comments, attributing them to a period of struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression after leaving the Army in 2012. He admitted to making these posts “trying to get a rise” out of people online, born from an “immense amount of disillusionment, an immense amount of anger.”
The Broader Political Context in Maine
Platner, an oyster farmer and first-time political candidate, is mounting a progressive campaign for the Maine U.S. Senate seat. He aims to challenge Republican incumbent Susan Collins, who has held the seat for 30 years. The Democratic primary field is particularly crowded, notably including two-term Governor Janet Mills, whose entry into the race intensified scrutiny on other candidates like Platner.
Despite the recent controversies, Platner has resisted calls to drop out of the race and maintains the backing of Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent. Sanders has publicly described Platner as a stronger candidate for the seat than Mills, signaling continued support for the embattled progressive hopeful.
Long-Term Implications and Public Trust
The continuous stream of revelations about Graham Platner’s past poses a significant challenge to his viability as a Democratic candidate. While his supporters emphasize his military service and progressive ideals, the appearance of a Nazi-linked tattoo and his controversial online history raise serious questions about judgment, due diligence, and the ability to earn public trust.
This situation highlights the intense vetting process political candidates face and the enduring power of symbols. For many, the association with Nazism, even if unintended, can be an insurmountable hurdle. Platner’s campaign now faces the arduous task of convincing voters that his apologies are genuine and that his past mistakes do not reflect his current character or political intentions, all while navigating a high-stakes primary and general election.
