Graham Platner says his Nazi-linked tattoo was drunken mistake

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/21/graham-platner-addresses-tattoo-linked-to-nazis/

/

Graham Platner, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Maine, took the unusual step of disclosing that he has a tattoo that has been linked to Nazis.

In an extended interview on Pod Save America that first aired Monday night, Platner said he and some fellow Marines got a skull tattoo while drunk on leave in Croatia in 2006, without knowing that it was associated with the Nazis.

“We got very inebriated, and we did what Marines on liberty do, and we decided to go get a tattoo,” Platner said. “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 made the disclosure by providing a video of him dancing shirtless at a family wedding, because he said political opponents were pitching stories about it to national journalists.

A mistake you don't correct in the course of 20 years is hard to justify as a mistake, imo.

[RandySF]

1. That excuse in older than my dad.

Why did he never get it removed?

[jmowreader]

27. Or have a different tattoo put on top of it?

A good tattoo artist could have put a less-disgusting tattoo right on top of it in WAY less time than it would take to remove it.

[tulipsandroses]

51. Exactly! Many people cover up regret tattoos with another tattoo

Other reformed Nazis have removed their hateful tattoos

[leftstreet]

2. LOL how do you not get that removed?

This poor guy is fucked

His apology video for the reddit statements was sincere, and relatable for anyone overcoming mistakes made in the past

But damn...

[RandySF]

3. He's always explaining, always excusing.

[leftstreet]

5. Yep

He clearly wasn't ready for this

All the issues he wanted to campaign on will be tossed in the bin, and he'll be on the defensive 24/7

[Arazi]

4. Nopity nope nope nope. Cross him off the list

[republianmushroom]

6. Totally agree with you.

[Paladin]

14. Fully agree. (nt)

[LuvLoogie]

7. Chuck sure dodged a bullet for everyone with this.

Fuck this guy. Go Mills.

[Doremus]

15. Not from Maine but I'd be interested in knowing more about Mills. nt

edit: wrong state

[LuvLoogie]

18. I'm from Chicago. This is all hands everywhere, tho.

This is how it should be always. We are 50 years behind the GOP in long term planning and execution.

[mainer]

22. Trump hates Janet Mills. Good enough for me.

She's been a first in a lot of things. And she's one of the few who stood up to Trump to his face. He hates her.

Here's her ad

Link to tweet

[Easterncedar]

76. Unfortunately so do a lot of Mainers

I like her, but she has, unfairly, picked up a lot of unpopularity in her tenure.

[MaineBlueBear]

8. Looking forward to not voting for this guy

in the primary

[tritsofme]

9. So has Bernie rescinded his endorsement yet? Or is he just hoping Platner disappears in the next few days?

[PunkinPi]

39. According to John Bresnahan of Punchbowl News, this is Bernie's response...

Link to tweet

[tritsofme]

41. Wow, that is utterly disgraceful. For shame, Bernie, for shame.

How hard is it to admit you made a mistake endorsing a guy with a Nazi tattoo?

The arrogance here is astounding.

[PunkinPi]

50. Absolutely shameful and admitting the mistake shouldn't be hard. nt

[Cha]

47. Mahalo, PunkinPi... Well We

Don't Need Candidates that Give Fodder like this to assist Collins getting Reelected.

We Need Gov Janet Mills

[PunkinPi]

52. Mahalo, Cha!

I'm so glad Gov Mills got in the race. Platner raises all kinds of red flags when he is actually vetted (nazi tattoo, comments about Black folks tipping and sexual assault victims, ex mercenary for Constellis (formerly Blackwater), etc.). We certainly don't need Fetterman 2.0 in the senate.

Hope you are doing well these days, all things considered.

[Cha]

56. Aloha, PunkinPi! So Grateful Gov Mills

is running for Senator, too

I've read all that news that you posted about Planter and as someone wrote early on when his history started getting out there.. ...

"What else is going to come out?" Didn't think it was going to be a Nazi Tattoo that never got taken off after all these years.

We Need that Senate Seat from Maine.. and Hopefully Gov Mills will Get It DONE!

[yorkster]

58. I hope to do phoning, etc. for Gov. Mills.

I think she'd make a damn good senator.

[Cha]

60. Mahalo, yorkster!

[yorkster]

65. Hi there Cha. Wish I could pop over and meet you.

Let us know if you ever come to Maine.....
....

[Cha]

66. Aww.. That would be Great! I have been to

to Maine.. Gorgeous Camping Road Trip on our way to Nova Scotia in 2005.

Got up So early to see the Sunrise... don't remember where it was exactly but it was Beautiful!

[yorkster]

70. That sounds like a loverly trip.

We go to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick,
Quebec and once to Newfoundland. The north draws me. Always has. Of course not so much since the beast came back to DC...Oh, Canada...
Take care. We're all in this together.

[Cha]

81. Ah Yes, Oh Canada! We also went to Prince

Edward Island, Newfoundland, and We were in Halifax and Mabou, Nova Scotia.. Fondest of Memories.

So glad we got there while the Getting was Good!

You, too, Take Care

[awesomerwb1]

10. And this is the guy Bernie endorsed?

Way to go Bernie!

[stopdiggin]

13. love Bernie (kind of like you do an elderly aunt)

but that also includes an equal portion of 'humoring' them ...
When they say 'dippy' things.

[W_HAMILTON]

24. "I support Sanders and Sanders supports me" does not a good progressive make.

Last edited Wed Oct 22, 2025, 01:26 AM - Edit history (1)

I've said that we progressives need to do a better job of vetting our candidates and this is the perfect reason why.

For all the disdain about """The Establishment,""" there's something to be said for working your way up the Democratic ranks and proving your progressive creds by what you do and what you've accomplished vs. what you say.

As they say, talk is cheap.

I'm just grateful it looks like we found out this guy's true colors before we elected him to a six-year term like we did with Fetterman.

[Cha]

25. Well said.. the way you described being "Established" ..

That's the way I look at it.. it's true.

Glad this is out now Before the General when the Fascists would run with it.

[stopdiggin]

61. 100% !!! And thanks for both boosting a very valid point - and for making it so well ! - -(nt)-

[Aristus]

11. I have been black-out drunk several times in my life.

I have never, ever gotten a Nazi tattoo (or any tattoo at all, really) during the black-out.

[stopdiggin]

12. But, but - "new blood", "establishment pols", "term limits" ...

You betcha !

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[mr715]

23. This is why we have primaries.

And should always have primaries. They make our candidates stronger. They illuminate.

[stopdiggin]

57. and why I'm not AGAINST a certain amount of vetting

(with the state parties probably being in the best position .. ? although I'll grant there might be arguments put forth, pro and con ... )

Every 'Joe' has a perfect right to throw his hat in the ring ...
But it's just plain foolish for everyone else to be climbing on the bandwagon - before we've even tasted the popcorn ...

All Joes not created equal ... And just because somebody wears a baseball cap (or cowboy hat), does not mean the he's a swell (or 'regular'?) guy. ( or that either of those parameters means he's in any way qualified to do the job! )

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[mr715]

67. It shouldn't be regular to get nazi tats and not know

If I was running for office, I'd laser it before I filed my documents. At least as a Democrat.

And for the record, I was all in for this dude, and yeah I think it is a stupid choice made by a kid. But he isn't that many years separated from that decision.

Picking a tattoo off the wall indicates a lack of strategic awareness. I need strategy in my Democratic leaders.


He can remove the tattoo, run for state office, serve for 10 years, and still be a Senator.

[stopdiggin]

69. I believe it is possible for people to change, and grow

and rebound from mistakes

On the other hand - give me some reasons why I should have been excited about this guy in the first place?
(speaking rhetorically of course)

(and PLEASE - I've heard tons of Repubs down through the years talking about 'looking out for the little guy'. So, you're going to have to do better than that ... )

[mr715]

71. Yeah

We change, and this is his opportunity to literally burn the Nazi shit from his body.

He seemed like a great candidate, but it turns out he invested time, money, and blood in having a symbol he doesn't care about put on his skin.

The benefit of being a kid (i.e. younger than me) running for office is you have time to redouble your efforts. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of him, but he is not worthy of being the Democratic nominee for Senate. That august house that is only ~53% nazi now.

Meanwhile no one is asking to see Susan Collins tats.

[stopdiggin]

75. dear god, NO ! (now there's an image to etch into your retinas .... or memory ... I may never properly sleep ... )

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[mr715]

77. They're concerning. nt

[AZJonnie]

16. Having gotten it in the first place, under those conditions, I would let that slide

because not everyone knows every symbol of Nazi iconography esp. not in their early 20's

But the story doesn't make clear when he came to know it was Nazi-linked and if it was more than a few weeks ago (which seems likely to be the case) I would consider it disqualifying as far as my own vote would go.

[Happy Hoosier]

17. The Totenkopf is older than the Nazis, but...

... it's pretty heavily associated with the SS.

He should get it removed. He should have gotten removed before now.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

20. The version he got is the SS version.

[EX500rider]

74. Yes, appears to be the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf symbol

[obamanut2012]

34. He brags about being a history buff, including being a WWII buff

How the heck wouldn't he know what an SS Deathhead is.

[AZJonnie]

43. Like I say, if he didn't know at the time, then when he came to know would be the most important point for me

Sounds like there's good reason to think he's known for a long time, never removed or covered it, so I concur that the dude has got to go. Don't want a Democrat like that running in our name

[mcar]

19. He is Hegseth-like

Why is anyone supporting him?

[obamanut2012]

35. I am still spooked by Tulsi

My first hidden posts ever on DU were saying she was Trojan horse and I didn't trust her -- the cult she's in, hating LGBT, etc. This guy gave me the willies the same way, but I figured I was wrong.

Then the women-beating posts, working as a Blackwater Mercenary, then this.

[yorkster]

64. Whoa. He made me nervous, but Blackwater?

This I did not know. Worse than I knew and I was skeptical albeit initially open minded.

I knew I would stick with Gov. Mills after the first bits of Platner weirdness came out, but this is really creepy. Plus the effing
deathshead tattoo. And women beating?
JFC...

[Blue_Adept]

21. As they say in Mortal Kombat - DISQUALIFIED

[wcmagumba]

26. He seems like a lying sack of shite...once you get a Nazi tattoo, you're always a Nazi in my book...

He may be a Republican troll trying to infiltrate the Democratic Party...show him the door...

[QueerDuck]

28. Survey says?! .... ❌

[Vinca]

29. Sorry, if you find out your tattoo is Nazi-related and don't have it removed, that speaks volumes.

My opinion of this guy has reversed over the past few days. Thought I could forgive him for stuff he might have said when he was fighting a war and probably not thinking clearly, but keeping this tattoo is a bridge too far.

[obamanut2012]

37. He was also a Blackwater Merc

[oasis]

72. Totally disqualifying!!! Machine heads are likely

to flip at the drop of a hat.

[RockRaven]

30. Tattoo removal is readily available, and failing that coverup tattoos are even moreso.

And it has been two decades.

Do fucking better than this, shit.

[questionseverything]

31. Why are you picking on this guy? I thought he dropped out as soon as the governor announced she was running?

Just to make sure no new blood try’s again?

[tritsofme]

32. Thank goodness people are "picking on" this terrible candidate.

Can you imagine if he won the primary before all this came out? Collins would have wiped the floor with him.

And to be clear, he has not dropped out of the race yet.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

36. Just making sure new blood with Nazi tattoos don't try again.

He hasn’t dropped out yet.

[obamanut2012]

38. Wrong guy, and sorry, know who has Nazi tattoos?

Especially big ones on their chest?

A Nazi.

[questionseverything]

44. So I asked google, are skull and crossbones always nazi signs?

It said no and gave loads of examples of other reasons for having it including, “ showing you think you are a tough guy “ or a pirate 🏴‍☠️

[WhiskeyGrinder]

45. The version he got is the SS version.

[questionseverything]

48. When I googled it there were hundreds of variations

Honestly I can’t tell what is on his chest from the picture with the article

I don’t care for tats personally and don’t have any but I know lots of people who do, some with skull and bones ( who are definitely not nazis)

[WhiskeyGrinder]

49. that's fine, but the one he got is the SS version

[tritsofme]

46. Feels like we can do better than making excuses for people who knowingly had Nazi symbols tattooed on their body for

over a decade without thinking to remove it until he ran for office.

[stopdiggin]

63. because there is NEVER any need for 'new blood' such as this

And because there was quite a bit of knee jerk praise lavished on earlier.
(most likely in large part to the 'new blood' baloney)

[obamanut2012]

33. Then he should have removed, and it provbably could have been covered for free

Lots of tat folks do cover ups of gang and Nazi tattoos for free.

[Iggo]

40. I believe it.

He was drunk.

…and…

Even though he did it on purpose, it was still a huge mistake to tattoo himself with nazi symbolism.

That said, he’s still a nazi.

[struggle4progress]

42. Another GOP mole exposed

[Skittles]

68. something ain't right

this guy is a textbook definition of a MAGAt piece of utter shit

[walkingman]

53. I would love to see a Democrat progressive defeat Susan Collins.

Do I trust Bernie? Yep. If there is a better candidate, then I hope they win the primary.

Since I am not from Maine - not my decision.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

54. Update: Platner says he's going to get it removed.

https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/21/graham-platner-addresses-tattoo-linked-to-nazis/

Platner said in a written statement Tuesday that he’s planning to have the tattoo removed.

“It was not until I started hearing from reporters and DC insiders that I realized this tattoo resembled a Nazi symbol,” he said. “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.”

Releasing the video of himself is one way in which Platner has sought to flip the script after a series of stories broke nationally last week about his old comments on Reddit about racism, sexual assault in the military and police officers.

They included statements about rural white Americans being racists, blaming women for getting sexually assaulted in the military, calling all police bastards and questioning why black people don’t tip.

DC insiders? huh

[WhiskeyGrinder]

55. Former political director (resigned last week) doesn't buy it:

https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/21/graham-platner-addresses-tattoo-linked-to-nazis/

Platner’s former political director, who resigned Friday because of Platner’s Reddit comments, doesn’t buy his explanation.

“Platner prides himself on his extensive knowledge of military history,” Genevieve McDonald, a former state representative, said. “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.”

[LetMyPeopleVote]

59. Former Platner political director weighs in on his tattoo

It is never a good sign when your political director resigns

Link to tweet

[Cha]

62. Mahalo, LMPV... What's "Red Eats" about in

those tweets?

[iemanja]

73. Tattoos can be removed

and he chose to keep it.

[Blasphemer]

78. This guy would end up being another Fetterman. nt

[awesomerwb1]

79. Come on, who hasn't got a Nazi related tattoo

in the past and not done anything to have it removed in 20 years?

Pffft. Almost everyone right?

[marble falls]

80. A mistake. But not enough of one to even think about voting for his GOP opponent.

[dlk]

82. Has Platner ever held elected office or run a successful campaign?

How skilled would he be helping craft/pass legislation?

The tattoo may have been a mistake but what does it say about his judgment?

[SSJVegeta]

83. Ya..

Nah.

[Cha]

84. ".. A Drunken Mistake.." But not enough

to get it Removed until now. when it's exploding.