Senator Warren Backs Candidate with Controversial Tattoo, Contrasting Stance on Previous Criticisms
A prominent US Senator has recently thrown her support behind a progressive candidate for the Senate primary in Maine, despite that candidate’s past association with a tattoo bearing Nazi-like connotations. This endorsement comes as a stark contrast to the Senator’s previous strong criticisms of another individual’s tattoo, which she deemed a potential threat.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a key figure in progressive politics, has officially endorsed Graham Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer and military veteran, in the Democratic primary race for the Maine Senate seat. Platner has been facing significant scrutiny over a tattoo that bears a resemblance to a symbol used by Adolf Hitler’s notorious paramilitary organisation, the Schutzstaffel (SS), during World War II.
Despite the controversy surrounding Platner’s ink, Senator Warren stated that she believed he would “actually deliver change for working people in the Senate.” She expressed her “pride” in endorsing Platner, highlighting his potential to champion the needs of ordinary citizens.
This endorsement is particularly noteworthy given Senator Warren’s prior vocal opposition to Pete Hegseth, a former Secretary of Defense nominee. Warren had previously expressed serious concerns about Hegseth’s own tattoos, specifically a phrase referencing a Christian motto, labelling it a potential “insider threat.”
During the confirmation process for Hegseth last year, Warren publicly stated that questions had been raised about whether his tattoo, “Deus vult” (which translates to “God wills it”), represented a “Christian expression associated with right–wing extremism.” This statement was reportedly linked to a report detailing concerns raised by a National Guard master sergeant regarding Hegseth’s tattoos. The report also flagged Hegseth’s chest tattoo, depicting the Jerusalem Cross, as a point of concern.
Warren had argued that a defence secretary should not have colleagues who feel concerned enough to report them as a potential insider threat. However, when questioned about Platner’s tattoo, she adopted a different approach.
“Look, he has apologized for that, and he’s out there talking to the people of Maine every single day,” Warren told reporters. She reiterated her support for Platner, emphasizing the need for “more people here in Washington who are less about go along to get along, and more about fighting to make the kind of changes that families need.”
Platner is currently competing against incumbent Governor Janet Mills for the Democratic nomination. The winner will go on to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in what is considered a crucial race for the Democrats’ aspirations of regaining control of the Senate.
The controversy surrounding Platner’s tattoo has been amplified by a recent campaign advertisement released by Governor Mills’ campaign. The video, which has garnered over a million views on the social media platform X, features a narrator stating, “The closer you look, the worse it gets,” as a magnifying glass hovers over an image of a shirtless Platner.
Platner has explained that he acquired the tattoo during a night of drinking in Croatia and was initially unaware of its association with Nazi ideology. He has since covered the tattoo with a different design, citing limited options for removal in his rural Maine locality.
Beyond the tattoo, Platner’s past online activity has also come under fire. Mills’ advertisement highlights controversial social media posts where Platner appeared to dismiss the seriousness of sexual assault. In one post, he reportedly advised women to “not get so f**ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to,” and in another, he urged potential victims to “act like an adult for fcks sake.” These comments have been described as “horrible,” “disqualifying,” and “disgusting” by women featured in the ad.
Further scrutiny of Platner’s past, as reported by Politico, has revealed disparaging remarks made towards the military and minority groups. In one instance, he questioned the legitimacy of disability claims among veterans, suggesting some “gamed it for the cash” while simultaneously criticising “welfare queens.” In another post, Platner questioned why Black patrons were perceived to tip less frequently, asking, “There’s got to be a reason behind it, what is it?” He also made a critical observation about the US military’s efforts in protracted wars against adversaries who primarily used “flip flops” as transportation.
Platner has since apologised for these Reddit posts, attributing them to a period after his departure from the Army in 2012, during which he was reportedly struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. He stated that he was still grappling with the “crude humor, the dark, dark feelings, the offensive language that really was a hallmark of the infantry when I was in it.”
