SULLIVAN, Maine
Democratic Senate candidate, Graham Platner, is facing backlash after a Reddit post re-emerged where he stated that wounded soldiers “didn’t deserve to live.” When approached by Fox News Digital for comment, he didn’t immediately express regret. Earlier, he had shared a video ridiculing Pfc. Ted Daniels, who was injured in a 2012 confrontation with the Taliban and awarded the Purple Heart.
In a response to questions about the post, Platner, a veteran who served four tours, said, “Any attempt to say I disrespect veterans is defamatory and offensive.” When pressed about whether he owed an apology to Daniels or Maine voters offended by his comments, his responses were somewhat evasive.
He continued, “Do you know how many of my friends have Purple Hearts, do you know how many of my friends have been injured? Yes, there are a lot of people, thank you.” Following public outrage over the resurfaced post, many criticized him for showing a lack of respect towards fellow service members.
In 2019, on the Reddit account he acknowledged as P-Hustle, Platner shared a video that included derogatory remarks about Daniels’ military service. Critics, including Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill, condemned these comments. O’Neill labeled Platner’s statements as “completely outrageous,” emphasizing that every soldier fights not just for politics but for one another.
O’Neill further described the comments as “barbaric,” stressing that taking an oath means putting aside political differences. He said that to disparage someone like Daniels, especially during armed conflict, contradicts everything service members train to uphold. Platner himself, in past statements, expressed regret for comments that have surfaced, insisting they don’t reflect who he is today.
Daniels responded to the resurfaced post, accusing Platner of being a coward for hiding behind anonymity to voice such opinions. Platner had previously acknowledged suffering from PTSD and distanced himself from the derogatory comments made in the past, asking not to be judged solely on those outbursts.
Platner secured his position as the presumptive Democratic nominee for the Senate after his main opponent, two-term governor Janet Mills, withdrew from the race. The Maine Democratic primary is set for June 9, where Platner will face off against David Costello for the chance to run against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.
