Democrat Senate Candidate Graham Platner to Remove Tattoo Resembling Nazi Totenkopf Amid Controversy

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner announced his intention to remove a skull-and-crossbones tattoo on his chest after it was widely identified as resembling the Nazi "Totenkopf" symbol. The revelation comes amidst a series of controversies for Platner's campaign, including past inflammatory online comments. Platner, an oyster farmer and military veteran, stated he was unaware of the tattoo's historical associations when he received it in 2007.

Platner addressed the issue in an interview, explaining that he and fellow Marines got matching skull-and-crossbones tattoos in Croatia while deployed overseas. "We chose a terrifying looking skull and crossbones off the wall because we were marines and skulls and crossbones are pretty standard military thing," he said, asserting he had no knowledge of its Nazi connection. He emphasized, "I am not a secret Nazi," and pointed to his Reddit history as evidence of his anti-Nazism stance.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) confirmed the tattoo's resemblance to the "death's head" symbol adopted by Hitler's SS. Oren Segal, ADL's senior vice president of counter-extremism, stated, "This appears to be a Nazi Totenkopf tattoo, and if true, it is troubling that a candidate for high office would have one." Platner's former political director, Genevieve McDonald, who resigned over his controversial Reddit posts, expressed skepticism, saying, "While he may not have known what his tattoo meant when he selected the image, it is not plausible he remained ignorant of its meaning all these years."

The tattoo controversy follows Platner's apology for past Reddit posts spanning from 2013 to 2021, where he made remarks such as calling police officers "bastards," questioning why Black people tip less, and criticizing Maine's lobstermen as "pieces of sh*t." He also advocated for political violence in a 2018 post. Senator Bernie Sanders, who has endorsed Platner, defended the candidate, saying, "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."

Platner's campaign has gained significant attention in the competitive Maine Senate race, where he is vying against Governor Janet Mills and other Democrats to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. He has raised nearly $4 million and positioned himself as a critic of the Democratic establishment. Platner reiterated his commitment to removing the tattoo, stating, "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."