Platner appeared on ‘Pod Save America’ to deny knowledge of the tattoo’s Nazi symbolism before a photo of the ink went viral
Graham Platner (D.), the Bernie Sanders-endorsed Senate candidate in Maine, revealed that he has a Nazi-linked tattoo on his chest but claimed to be unaware of its symbolism. Associates of Platner refuted that claim, with one calling him a history buff who “knows damn well” the meaning of the tattoo and another saying he referred to the ink as “my Totenkopf,” a reference to the Nazi symbol.
The controversy is the latest—and likely most damaging—stumbling block for Platner, who is already facing backlash over since-deleted Reddit posts in which he identified as a communist and denigrated both white rural Americans and black people.
Platner, who is running to unseat Republican Susan Collins, revealed in an interview on the Pod Save America podcast that he got a Totenkopf tattoo—a skull and crossbones associated with Nazi Germany and white supremacists—in 2007 while serving in the Marines.
Platner suggested he was unaware of the tattoo’s symbolism, telling Pod Save America host Tommy Vietor that “at no point” has anyone questioned the meaning of his tattoo. That was until Platner “got wind that in the opposition research somebody was shopping the idea that I was a secret Nazi with a hidden Nazi tattoo,” he told Vietor.
But an associate of Platner’s told Jewish Insider that Platner openly bragged about the tattoo, which he referred to as “my Totenkopf.”
Genevieve McDonald, who resigned as Platner’s campaign director last week over his Reddit posts, disputed his claims of ignorance about the tattoo. “Graham has an anti-Semitic tattoo on his chest,” she wrote. She said that Platner is “a history buff” who “knows damn well what [the tattoo] means.”
McDonald said the Platner campaign released a video of him shirtless, with the tattoo on display, to “some podcast bros” to “try to get ahead” of the negative story.
She was referring to Vietor, a former van driver for the 2008 Obama campaign. Vietor sought to steer Platner’s campaign from the brink of disaster, asking a series of softball questions to help him explain away the tattoo and his Reddit posts.
“I’ve been told that some of your political opponents are telling reporters that that tattoo has a Nazi affiliation,” said Vietor. “And I would like to know: Is that accurate, and are you a secret Nazi?”
“I am not a secret Nazi,” said Platner. “Actually, if you read through my Reddit comments, you can pretty much figure out where I stand on Nazism.”
In those Reddit posts, Platner called himself a communist, said “all” cops are bastards, called white rural Americans “racist and stupid,” asked why black people “don’t tip,” and blamed sexual assault victims for their own rapes. Platner said most of the posts were made while drunk.
“I also used to like to get drunk and post on Reddit, because that was fun when I was angry and alone,” he told Vietor.
That’s also Platner’s excuse for the Totenkopf, which he got in Croatia while on leave. “We got very inebriated, and we did what Marines on liberty do, and we decided to go get a tattoo,” Platner said.
Vietor indicated that Platner sought out the interview in order to talk about the tattoo and Reddit posts.
“I also appreciate that you wanted to come on here and talk about this stuff, and have a shitty, uncomfortable conversation because how else are you going to move on from this,” said Vietor.
Like the podcaster, Sanders is also standing by Platner.
“I personally think he is an excellent candidate,” Sanders said Tuesday. “I’m going to support him, and I look forward to him becoming the next senator in the state of Maine.” Asked further about the Nazi tattoo, Sanders complained about the “corrupt campaign finance system.” He added: “We don’t have enough candidates in this country that will take on the powers that be and fight for the working class.”
