Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, Graham Platner, recently faced questions about a tattoo during an interview on MS NOW. Host Elise Jordan confronted him regarding the tattoo, linked to the 3rd Panzer Corps, a Nazi unit notorious for managing concentration camps. Platner had initially claimed ignorance about its meaning, yet there are indications—like a Reddit post—suggesting he was aware and even justified the symbol.
Jordan highlighted the contradiction, asking, “An investigation shows you knew about the 3rd Panzer Corps tattoo. Can you clarify?” She pointed out, “Nazi tattoos are infamous. You said you didn’t know what it was, but it seems otherwise.” Platner dismissed these claims as “fundamentally untrue,” insisting that the tattoo was actually meant to symbolize a skull and crossbones in representation of his service as a Marine during deployments in Croatia.
He explained, “I was a machine gunner. We served together and wanted to get a tattoo that represented our experience in the Marines.” Platner added that he was vetted by the State Department for “hate and gang-related tattoos” while protecting the Afghan ambassador. “I’ve been showing my tattoo around family and friends for years without issues,” he remarked.
Moreover, a past video emerged from his brother’s wedding where he appeared shirtless, featuring a skull tattoo similar to the “Totenkopf” symbol used by Hitler’s SS. Jordan also pressed him about comments he made regarding Totenkopf on Reddit.
Platner clarified that his discussions were about sniper images once common in the Marine Corps. “It wasn’t a good look, and today’s scout snipers wouldn’t recognize it,” he asserted. CNN’s investigation had revealed that acquaintances and Platner’s own Reddit messages contradicted his claims about being newly aware of the tattoo’s Nazi connections.
In a podcast, Platner stated, “I’m not a secret Nazi” and professed a lifelong opposition to Nazism and racism. He also recalled a past Reddit post where he referred to himself as a “communist,” calling it just an “internet post.” Such comparisons have been common among Democratic lawmakers, particularly drawing parallels to the deportation policies during President Trump’s administration.
In a broader cultural discussion, some liken ICE agents to Nazis, with public figures like Stephen Colbert suggesting that they might even be worse due to their current tactics.
