Platner’s Controversies—from Reddit Posts To A Nazi Tattoo
Platner was criticized last year after some of his past social media posts resurfaced, including some in which he reportedly referred to himself as a “communist,” called white rural people racist and stupid and encouraged people not to use substances to avoid being raped. Platner apologized for the posts and said he was “deeply sorry,” pointing to the “disillusionment” he felt when he returned home after serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Platner also drew criticism after a video surfaced of him shirtless with a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol. Platner told “Pod Save America” he was “not a Nazi” and was a “lifelong opponent” of Nazism, suggesting he got the tattoo while “very inebriated” while he was a Marine in 2007 and that he was unaware of its Nazi links. He covered the tattoo up in October after promising to have it removed. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., told CNN last week he believed the tattoo should still be “personally disqualifying.”
Key Background
Platner, a veteran and oyster farmer, emerged as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for Senate in Maine after Gov. Janet Mills dropped out in April. He has been endorsed by several Democrats, including Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., And Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who reiterated his support for Platner after reports of his texts emerged Saturday, writing on X he was “proud” of Platner for “having the character to stand up against the war in Iran, against Genocide, and against an unfair and lopsided economy.” Platner will challenge Maine’s long-time Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.
Read more Kanye West Performs For 118,000 In Turkey—Despite Cancellations Over Antisemitic Behavior