Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, faces a challenge from Democrat Graham Platner for her U.S. Senate seat, but a questionable tattoo and prior social media posts could sink his chances. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Graham Platner hopes to be elected as one of Maine’s two U.S.senators and denied allegations that he is a closet Nazi after images of a questionable tattoo became public.
The tattoo appears in a home video recorded by Platner’s family and showing him shirtless while singing during his brother’s wedding in 2007.
It resembles the Nazi SS death head that is called a Totenkopf and was worn by SS troops and SS members in charge of Nazi death camps during World War II, according to Axios.
“I am not a secret Nazi,” he told Tommy Vietor on the “Pod Save America” podcast on Monday.
NEW: Graham Platner reacts to recently resurfaced video of him singing shirtless at a wedding and an opposition research attack alleging he's a "secret nazi." Full interview out now on the Pod Save America YouTube. pic.twitter.com/r8GEePCPLP— Pod Save America (@PodSaveAmerica) October 21, 2025
He said he got the tattoo while he was a Marine deployed in Croatia nearly 20 years ago and was very drunk at the time.
Platner said he and his Marine Corps colleagues chose the skull and crossbones tattoo because it is scary-looking and he was unaware of any potential Nazi affiliation, Politico reported.
“I absolutely would not have gone through this life having this on my chest if I knew that,” Platner told Vietor.
“To insinuate that I did is disgusting,” he added. “I am already planning to get this removed.”
Platner also addressed accusations that he referred to himself as a “communist” and called police “bastards” in Reddit posts that he since has deleted, according to The Hill.
He also said Americans who live in rural areas are “stupid.”
The social media posts resurfaced a week ago, but Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin on Sunday said they don’t disqualify Platner from seeking office.
Platner recorded and posted a video in which he apologizes for the Reddit Posts
Platner seeks to replace Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has held the seat since 1997.
Also running for the Democratic Party’s nomination is Maine Gov. Janet Mills, among others.
