“It’s disgusting to suggest I’m a Nazi,” says Graham Platner, who denies any connection to hate symbols after backlash over his tattoo.
Maine Senate Candidate Denies Nazi Allegations After Tattoo Controversy
Maine Democratic Senate candidate and former Marine Graham Platner is denying accusations that he is a “secret Nazi” after a video surfaced showing a tattoo on his chest that resembles a symbol once used by Nazi Germany.
The controversy began after a video shared by Platner’s campaign with the “Pod Save America” podcast showed him lip-syncing to Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” at his brother’s wedding about ten years ago. In the clip, Platner appears shirtless, and viewers noticed a skull tattoo that looks similar to the “Totenkopf,” an emblem associated with Adolf Hitler’s SS, or Schutzstaffel.
Platner: “I Had No Idea What the Symbol Represented”
Platner firmly rejected any connection to Nazi ideology, explaining that the tattoo was chosen spontaneously while drinking with fellow Marines in Croatia nearly 20 years ago.
“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,” Platner said. “I am already planning to get this removed.”
He added that the tattoo had never raised concerns in his professional or military life, noting that he passed U.S. Army physicals — which screen for hate symbols — and a security clearance background check before joining the Ambassador to Afghanistan’s security detail.
“In the nearly 20 years since, this hasn’t come up,” Platner said. “If I was trying to hide it, I’ve not been doing a very good job for the past 18 years.”
Questions Arise About Awareness and Symbolism
Despite his explanation, some have questioned how Platner could have been unaware of the symbol’s historical connotations. A Jewish Insider report cited an acquaintance who claimed Platner once referred to the tattoo as “my Totenkopf,” though this has not been independently confirmed.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Totenkopf — meaning “death’s head” in German — is a skull-and-crossbones image historically tied to Nazi military units and now used by extremist and white-supremacist groups.
Platner’s campaign did not directly address whether he had ever used the term “Totenkopf,” but reaffirmed his opposition to hate symbols.
Platner called those claims politically motivated, alleging they were part of opposition research designed to damage his reputation. “At no point in this entire experience of my life did anybody ever once say, ‘Hey, you’re a Nazi,’” he said.
Reports Claim Platner Referred to Tattoo as “My Totenkopf”
The publication Jewish Insider reported that an acquaintance recalled Platner referring to the tattoo as “my Totenkopf,” a German term meaning “death’s head.” However, POLITICO noted that it could not independently verify that claim.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Totenkopf — a skull and crossbones design — was adopted by the Nazi SS and remains a hate symbol among white supremacist groups today.
Platner’s campaign did not directly confirm or deny whether he ever used the term but reiterated his condemnation of extremist ideologies.
Past Offensive Online Posts Resurface
The tattoo controversy follows recent criticism over old Reddit posts linked to Platner. In those posts, he appeared to downplay sexual assault in the military in 2013 and advocated violence as a means of social change in 2018.
Platner, now 41, has since apologized, describing those comments as the product of a difficult period following his military service.
“I made a mistake as a young Marine,” he said. “It doesn’t define me. My life, my service, and my work for this country define who I am.”
His campaign emphasized that Platner remains committed to focusing on issues such as veterans’ rights, affordable housing, and restoring public trust in government.
The Broader Impact of Symbolism in Politics
Analysts say Platner’s situation highlights how symbols and personal history can become powerful flashpoints in modern campaigns. Even actions made decades earlier can have major repercussions in the digital age, where transparency and accountability are paramount.
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Whether voters see Platner’s actions as an honest mistake or a serious lapse in awareness could influence his chances in the upcoming election. For now, he remains firm in his message: “I am not, and have never been, a Nazi.”
