PORTLAND, Maine — Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, has revealed that he has covered up a tattoo widely recognized as a Nazi symbol, amid growing backlash during his campaign.
The tattoo, which appears to be the “Totenkopf” (death’s head) emblem used by Nazi SS units responsible for concentration camps during World War II, was inked on Platner’s chest in 2007. Platner, then serving in the Marine Corps, said he got it during a night of drinking while on leave in Croatia.
Until recently, Platner stated he was unaware of the tattoo’s association with Nazi imagery. He initially announced plans to have the tattoo removed but later decided to cover it up instead, citing limited tattoo removal resources in rural Maine. The cover-up image features a Celtic knot design incorporating a dog, which Platner said better represents his current values.
“This tattoo has been covered up with some kind of Celtic knot with a dog on it, because that’s far more in line with my opinions now than my connection to the violence that I partook in when I was a young man,” Platner told Vanity Fair.
The controversy around Platner’s tattoo has come amid further scrutiny of his past social media posts, which included racially insensitive remarks, crude comments about sexual assault victims, and criticisms of police officers and rural Americans. Platner has publicly apologized for those statements, attributing them to struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after leaving the Army in 2012.
Platner’s campaign has been marked by a mix of support and criticism. Despite the tattoo scandal and resurfaced social media remarks, he has retained backing from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who believes Platner is a stronger progressive candidate against longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Platner defended his military service record amid the controversy, noting that he enlisted in the U.S. Army after the tattoo incident, passed comprehensive physical and background checks — including scrutiny for hate symbols — and served on the security detail for the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan.
The Maine Senate race has attracted considerable attention as Platner seeks to unseat Collins, who has held the seat for 30 years, in a crowded Democratic primary that also includes Governor Janet Mills.
As the race heats up, Platner’s handling of the tattoo controversy and his broader personal history remain central topics among voters and political commentators alike.