In a now-deleted Reddit post, Democratic candidate for the Maine Senate, Graham Platner, referred to the U.S. Army as “utter trash” and described its members as “fat, lazy trash who don’t want to wear a uniform.”
Reflecting on his time in the military, Platner mentioned having served four years in the Army after leaving the Marine Corps, and while he expressed some gratitude for his experiences, he criticized the organization overall. “I’m not one to say anything bad about the Army at all,” he wrote in 2019, acknowledging that there are “some solid fighting units” but lamented the lack of “warrior spirit” and leadership compared to the Marine Corps.
Interestingly, his past resurfaced comments included disparaging remarks about Teddy Daniels, a fallen soldier awarded the Purple Heart, which sparked significant backlash. Platner described Daniels’ battlefield tactics as poor and shockingly stated, “Stupid mother didn’t deserve to live.”
His both derogatory and previously deleted comments have become a central issue in his campaign against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine.
Platner, a veteran of the Marine Corps and the Maryland Army National Guard with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, noted that it’s not unusual for soldiers from different branches to be critical of one another. In fact, he made further negative remarks about the Army in March 2019, calling it “a terrible organization” filled with individuals uninterested in military service.
However, he did recognize some positives of the Army, praising certain units and their training. He has also been open about the need for criticism within military ranks, arguing that while civilians may have their opinions, military personnel should offer honest evaluations of their capabilities.
After the resurfacing of these posts, Platner apologized, explaining that this does not reflect who he is today. He expressed hope people would evaluate him based on his current character, rather than for what he called “the stupidest thing I’ve ever written on the internet.”
Drawing ire from other veterans, he faced harsh criticism for his earlier comments regarding the loss of life in combat. Adam Schwartz, a former Navy SEAL, pointed out, “We don’t joke about our brothers and sisters dying. It’s not something we do, it’s not normal.”
In light of his controversial remarks, Platner attributed some of his actions to psychological trauma from his deployments and a sense of “vulgar humor” he developed in the Marines.
Aside from Reddit, Platner’s controversial views have appeared in other forums. For instance, he implied during a 2024 podcast that Navy SEAL Chris Kyle may have inflated enemy kill counts, drawing criticism there too.
Concerns regarding Platner’s comments have left some questioning the support of fellow Democrats like Elizabeth Warren, as Bernadette Breslin of the National Republican Senatorial Committee remarked on how Platner’s actions may paint a troubling picture for the party.
As of now, Platner’s campaign has not responded to inquiries regarding these issues.
