Graham Platner’s Tattoo Controversy: A Lesson in Political Oversight
In a rather ironic twist of fate, Graham Platner, the Democratic contender for the Senate seat in Maine, has publicly expressed remorse over a tattoo that bears an uncanny resemblance to a Nazi symbol. This revelation comes nearly two decades after he first inked it, and it has sparked a flurry of negative headlines in recent days as old social media posts have resurfaced.
In an attempt to get ahead of the narrative, Platner’s campaign addressed the tattoo—resembling a Nazi skull and crossbones—during a recent appearance on the progressive podcast Pod Save America. The campaign even shared a clip of him dancing shirtless, perhaps a curious choice for a serious political discussion. Platner claimed he was completely oblivious to the tattoo’s associations when he got it.
“It was not until I started hearing from reporters and DC insiders that I realized this tattoo resembled a Nazi symbol,” Platner stated in a message to POLITICO on Tuesday. “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 am already planning to get this removed.”
Platner recounted that he got the tattoo while enjoying a night out with fellow Marines in Croatia, selecting the design from a wall at a tattoo parlor. He maintained that the likeness to Nazi iconography never came up, not even during the physical exams mandated by the U.S. Army, which explicitly bars tattoos featuring hate symbols.
“In the nearly 20 years since, this hasn’t come up,” Platner noted. “I enlisted in the Army, which included a full physical that examines tattoos for hate symbols. I also passed a comprehensive background check to receive a security clearance to join the Ambassador to Afghanistan’s security detail.”
The decision to publicly announce his intention to remove the tattoo was reportedly influenced by mounting questions, including those from a former campaign staffer about how he could have been unaware of its implications. Genevieve McDonald, Platner’s former political director, expressed skepticism on Facebook: “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.” McDonald, a former Democratic state lawmaker, resigned from the campaign last week after controversial posts from Platner’s Reddit history came to light.
Adding another layer to this unfolding drama, Jewish Insider reported on Tuesday that an acquaintance recalled Platner referring to the tattoo as “my Totenkopf,” although POLITICO has not independently verified this claim. “Totenkopf” is a German term that translates to “skull” and “crossbones,” and during the Nazi era, it was appropriated by the Nazi police, cementing its connection to white supremacy, as noted by the Anti-Defamation League.
The tattoo controversy emerged shortly after Platner issued an apology concerning his past Reddit posts, which he described as reflective of a disillusioned phase following his military service. These included a 2013 comment that downplayed sexual assault in the military and a now-deleted 2018 post suggesting that violence is a necessary means for enacting social change. In a video released last week, Platner, now 41, expressed regret for those remarks, asserting they do not represent the individual he has become.
Emerging from relative obscurity, Platner has gained traction in Maine’s Senate race, where several Democrats are vying for the opportunity to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins. His candidacy has even prompted discussions among some Senate Democrats questioning whether Governor Janet Mills should enter the race, although she did announce her candidacy earlier this month.
Despite the swirling controversy, one of Platner’s staunchest supporters, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), appeared unfazed on Tuesday. When questioned about the tattoo, Sanders stated, “Look, I understand this whole platoon—I don’t know too much about it—got inebriated. He went through a dark period. He’s not the only one in America who has gone through a dark period. People go through that, he has apologized for the stupid remarks, the hurtful remarks that he made, and I’m confident that he’s going to run a great campaign and that he’s going to win.”
Mia McCarthy contributed to this report.
