A Bernie Sanders-endorsed Democrat Senate candidate in Maine has been caught sporting a Nazi SS death’s head tattoo on his chest, raising serious questions about the progressive movement’s vetting standards and commitment to fighting antisemitism.
Story Snapshot
- Graham Platner, Sanders-backed Maine Senate candidate, admits to having Nazi “Totenkopf” tattoo resembling SS symbol.
- Claims ignorance of Nazi meaning despite getting a tattoo in 2007, only covering it up after controversy erupted.
- The campaign director resigned, and Jewish organizations condemned the tattoo amid calls for withdrawal.
- Resurfaced offensive online comments compound concerns about Platner’s judgment and character.
Progressive Candidate’s Nazi Symbol Sparks Outrage
Graham Platner, a Democrat U.S. Senate candidate endorsed by Bernie Sanders, admitted to having a chest tattoo resembling the Nazi “Totenkopf” or death’s head symbol used by Hitler’s SS units.
The former Marine claims he received the tattoo while drunk on leave in Croatia in 2007, insisting he was unaware of its Nazi connotations until the controversy erupted this month. This stunning revelation has rocked his progressive campaign against Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
The timing of Platner’s supposed enlightenment about the symbol’s meaning raises troubling questions. For nearly two decades, this former military serviceman carried a symbol associated with some of history’s worst atrocities, yet claims complete ignorance.
Anonymous sources suggest Platner previously referred to it as “my Totenkopf,” directly contradicting his public denials of knowledge about the symbol’s significance.
Campaign Crisis Deepens With Staff Resignations
The controversy triggered immediate fallout within Platner’s campaign organization. Political director Genevieve McDonald resigned following the tattoo revelation, signaling internal recognition of the situation’s severity.
The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine publicly condemned the tattoo and called for Platner to unequivocally denounce Nazi symbolism, highlighting the real harm such imagery causes to vulnerable communities.
Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner admits he got Nazi-linked tattoo while ‘very inebriated’ https://t.co/gC14s4ADmi pic.twitter.com/WWw4qZafpg
— New York Post (@nypost) October 21, 2025
Compounding the crisis, investigators uncovered offensive online comments Platner made years earlier, which he attributes to post-military struggles with PTSD and depression.
While mental health challenges deserve compassion, they cannot excuse the pattern of poor judgment that includes both acquiring Nazi imagery and making inflammatory statements online. These revelations paint a picture of a candidate whose past actions contradict his progressive messaging.
Sanders Endorsement Under Scrutiny
Bernie Sanders’ continued support for Platner, despite these revelations, exposes the progressive movement’s selective standards for accountability. While Sanders and his allies routinely demand Republicans answer for far lesser transgressions, they appear willing to overlook a literal Nazi symbol when it benefits their political agenda.
This double standard undermines the credibility of progressive claims about fighting hate and protecting vulnerable communities.
Platner’s defiant stance, refusing calls to withdraw from the race, mirrors the same political playbook progressives typically condemn. His statement “I am not a secret Nazi” hardly constitutes the kind of comprehensive accountability voters deserve when confronted with such serious symbolism.
The fact that he only addressed the tattoo after public exposure, rather than proactively during his political rise, suggests damage control rather than genuine remorse.
Sources:
Maine Senate candidate says he covered up Nazi-resembling tattoo – Axios
Maine Democratic Senate candidate admits to having Nazi-like tattoo – KIRO 7
Who is Graham Platner? Maine Senate candidate says he covered up Nazi-resembling tattoo – Fortune
