Politics in Maine usually involves talk of lobster prices, heating oil, or the latest move by Susan Collins. But lately, things have taken a much darker, weirder turn. If you've been online at all, you've probably seen the headlines about a Maine senator nazi tattoo. It sounds like a bad political thriller, but for Graham Platner—a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. Senate—it's a very real headache that has nearly derailed his campaign.
Actually, calling it a "senator's tattoo" is slightly premature. Platner is a candidate vying for the seat currently held by Republican Susan Collins. He’s an oyster farmer, a military veteran, and a guy who has spent the last few months trying to explain why a symbol associated with the worst atrocities of the 20th century was inked onto his chest.
The Story Behind the Ink
So, how does a guy who claims to be a "lifelong opponent of fascism" end up with a Nazi symbol on his body? According to Platner, it was basically a case of being young, dumb, and very drunk in a foreign country.
The year was 2007. Platner was in his early 20s, serving in the Marine Corps. He was on leave in Split, Croatia, carousing with his buddies. They ended up in a tattoo parlor, looking at the "flash" art on the walls. For those who don't know, flash is just the pre-drawn art you see in binders or on the walls of a shop. They picked a "terrifying-looking" skull and crossbones. At the time, they thought it just looked "cool" and "military."
The problem? That specific skull wasn't just any pirate design. It was a Totenkopf.
What is a Totenkopf?
The Totenkopf, or "death’s head," is a symbol that was famously adopted by Hitler’s Schutzstaffel, better known as the SS. Specifically, it was the insignia of the SS-Totenkopfverbände, the unit responsible for guarding the concentration camps. It’s not just a generic skull; it has a very specific anatomical design that is instantly recognizable to historians and, unfortunately, neo-Nazis.
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Platner says he had no idea. He’s argued that he went through nearly 20 years of life, including several more years in the military and a security clearance check for the State Department, without a single person pointing out what it was.
The Controversy Explodes
The "Maine senator nazi tattoo" story didn't come out in a vacuum. It hit right as Platner was gaining momentum as a progressive populist, even earning an endorsement from Bernie Sanders. The timing was brutal.
It started when political operatives and reporters began digging into his past. Along with the tattoo, a treasure trove of old Reddit posts surfaced. In those posts—written between 2013 and 2021—Platner reportedly:
- Mocked victims of military sexual assault.
- Made racially charged comments about the tipping habits of Black patrons.
- Criticized rural Americans and police officers.
When the tattoo news broke on top of the Reddit scandal, the Maine Democratic establishment pounced. Governor Janet Mills called the tattoo "abhorrent." Rival candidates demanded he drop out immediately, arguing that you can't have "moral clarity" against Donald Trump when you're wearing an SS symbol on your ribs.
"I'm Not a Secret Nazi"
Platner didn't hide. He went on the Pod Save America podcast and basically laid it all out. He looked frustrated. He called the situation a "spectacular turn of events," noting that he had gone from being called a "communist" to a "Nazi" in the span of four days.
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His defense is essentially that he’s a different person now. He blames the Reddit posts on a period of deep depression and PTSD following his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. As for the tattoo, he insists it was pure ignorance.
But not everyone is buying the "ignorant vet" defense. His former political director, Genevieve McDonald, resigned in protest. She pointed out that Platner is a self-described "military history buff." To her, the idea that a history nerd wouldn't recognize the most famous insignia of the SS feels... well, unlikely.
The Fix: A New Tattoo
By late October 2025, the pressure became too much. Platner realized he couldn't keep campaigning with a "hate symbol" on his chest, even if he claimed it was an accident.
He didn't get it removed, though. He lives in rural Maine, and apparently, laser tattoo removal is hard to find out there. Instead, he went to a local artist and got a "cover-up." He posted a video showing the new ink: a complex design featuring a Celtic knot and images of his family dogs.
"This far more represents who I am now," he said in a video on X (formerly Twitter). He apologized to anyone who had to "contemplate a symbol of hate" because of his past choices.
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Why This Matters for the 2026 Election
The Maine senator nazi tattoo controversy is a litmus test for modern politics. We’re in an era where voters are increasingly willing to forgive a "messy" past if they like a candidate's current platform. Platner is banking on that. He’s still in the race, still holding town halls, and still talking about Medicare for All.
His supporters argue that if we disqualify everyone who did something stupid in their 20s, we’ll only be left with "robotic" career politicians. His detractors say that some things—like Nazi imagery and mocking assault victims—are simply "disqualifying," no matter how much you've "transformed."
Actionable Insights: How to Evaluate Political Scandals
When stories like this break, it's easy to get lost in the outrage. Here’s how to look at it objectively:
- Check the Timeline: Is the "offense" recent, or is it a decades-old mistake? In Platner's case, the tattoo was from 2007, but the Reddit posts were as recent as 2021.
- Look at the Response: Does the candidate take responsibility, or do they blame "the media"? Platner took a hybrid approach—apologizing while also blaming "establishment" forces for the timing.
- Verify the Symbolism: Symbols like the Totenkopf are specific. Researching the difference between a "cool skull" and a "hate symbol" can help you decide if a candidate's claim of ignorance is plausible.
- Monitor the Policy: Does the candidate's current platform align with the "old" version of themselves, or have they truly changed? Platner's current "anti-fascist" rhetoric stands in stark contrast to the tattoo, which is either a sign of growth or a very deep cover.
The Maine primary will eventually decide if voters care more about a candidate’s "journey" or the permanent ink they chose to wear. For now, Graham Platner remains one of the most controversial figures in New England politics.