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Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s deleted Reddit account has continued to trigger complications for his marketing campaign in latest months, and a not too long ago resurfaced publish showing to mock a U.S. soldier virtually killed in fight is stirring up extra controversy.
“This video by no means will get outdated,” the Reddit account “P-Hustle” — which Platner has acknowledged he owned — posted in June 2019, in reference to a viral video from the helmet cam of Pfc. Ted Daniels taken throughout a conflict with Taliban fighters in 2012 that led to Daniels being shot 4 instances. He earned a Purple Coronary heart for his accidents.
“Dumb motherf****** did not need to stay. At the very least his stupidity and fats ass wheezing can be found for all future squaddies to witness and maintain in contempt. Poor marksmanship on the Taliban’s half is the one motive this mouthbreather made it house, he managed to make each doable shit resolution doable with regards to small unit fight.”
The publish was deleted however will be discovered on the Maine Monitor’s database of Platner’s deleted Reddit historical past.
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Maine Democratic Sen. candidate Graham Platner is dealing with renewed criticism over his deleted Reddit historical past. (Joe Raedle/Getty Photographs)
Daniels stated in later interviews that he purposely moved into the open to attract hearth away from different males in his unit, and whereas he expressed embarrassment and stated “tactically” it was “not a sound factor to do,” in the end, “I put my a– on the road for different guys.”
Platner, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served 4 fight excursions in Iraq and Afghanistan, is garnering criticism over the deleted publish from quite a lot of sources starting from the web, to the Nationwide Republican Senate Committee, to a former Marine who spoke to Fox Information Digital.
“We do not make jokes about our brothers and sisters dying, that is not one thing we do, that is not regular,” Adam Schwarze, a former Navy SEAL and Marine veteran operating for U.S. Senate as a Republican in Minnesota, stated about Platner mocking a fellow soldier on social media in an open discussion board.
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Schwarze acknowledged that Marines can generally have a “darkish” humorousness and provides one another a tough time about ways when talking privately, however stated that Platner’s publish was one thing totally different.
“We do not publish about our brothers getting wounded in motion.”
Schwarze additionally took problem with posts from Platner’s account associated to legislation enforcement, together with that “all police are bastards”, provided that so many members of legislation enforcement are former lively obligation army.
“I believe it is very harmful to say, ‘Hey, that is how veterans suppose and discuss’ as a result of that is simply not true. I served 21 years, 9 deployments, I do not know one fight veteran who makes feedback like cops are bastards.”
Schwarze stated he believes Platner has “psychological points.”
“I really feel unhealthy for him. I believe he ought to get some assist. He deserves assist from his time down vary, from his PTSD and his psychological well being points, however he actually should not be operating for america Senate.”
NRSC Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell added, “Anybody who makes enjoyable of the American troopers who gave their lives for freedom and cheers on terrorists has no place serving in america Senate.”
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Graham Platner, the Democrats’ presumptive Senate nominee in Maine, holds an vitality occasion in Ellsworth, Maine, on Monday, Could 11, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox Information)
“That is what Platner thinks about his fellow Individuals at conflict,” journalist Magdi Jacobs, who first revealed the deleted entry on social media, wrote on X. “If they are not good at killing or broader ways, he has contempt for them. He shows no empathy. The alternative, the truth is.”
Fox Information Digital reached out to the Platner marketing campaign for remark.
Platner, a first-time candidate who’s backed by progressive champions Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, has beforehand responded to questions on his social posts by saying he was joking.
“You must learn the feedback in context. It’s totally clear I am joking,” he beforehand advised Fox Information Digital when requested about different feedback. “It is known as s—posting. It is if you argue with folks on the web and attempt to hassle them. So, yeah, no, it is very clearly not true.”
Different posts Platner has been questioned about, together with in a latest interview with The New York Instances, embody a 2013 publish, which Platner later deleted, that folks involved about rape mustn’t “get so f—ed up they wind up having intercourse with somebody they don’t imply to.”
Platner has additionally confronted scrutiny for newer Reddit posts, together with one from 5 years in the past by which he described himself as a “communist” and “socialist.” Moreover, Platner’s posts have contained alleged homophobic slurs and reward for army ways utilized by Hamas.
Platner turned the Democrats’ presumptive nominee after his rival for the nomination, two-term Gov. Janet Mills, ended her marketing campaign final month after trailing Platner in polling and fundraising.
Platner will try and defeat five-term incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins this fall in a intently watched race that would have a big impression on the steadiness of energy within the U.S. Senate.
