Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner from Maine has come under fire after a controversial Reddit post resurfaced, in which he said a wounded soldier “didn’t deserve to live.” Fox News Digital reported that Platner has declined to apologise to both voters and the Purple Heart recipient involved.
Platner, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, did not respond immediately when asked outside a local market if he regretted the post. The post mocked a video of Pfc. Ted Daniels, who was shot four times during a clash with the Taliban in 2012 and later received a Purple Heart.
“I did four tours in the infantry. Any claim that I disrespect veterans is slanderous and offensive,” Platner said when asked about what he would say to Maine voters offended by the post, and whether he should apologise to Daniels.
When Fox News Digital asked again if he owed Daniels an apology, Platner replied, “Do you know how many of my friends have Purple Hearts? Do you know how many of my friends got wounded? Yeah, a lot of them, thank you.”
The Controversial Reddit Post
The post, made in June 2019 from Platner’s Reddit account “P-Hustle,” referenced a viral video from Daniels’ helmet camera during combat. Platner wrote:
“Dumb motherf—– didn’t deserve to live. At least his stupidity and fat a– wheezing are available for all future infantrymen to witness and hold in contempt. Poor marksmanship on the Taliban’s part is the only reason this mouthbreather made it home. He managed to make every possible s— decision possible when it comes to small unit combat.”
The comments sparked outrage online, with many veterans condemning the post. Rob O’Neill, the U.S. Navy SEAL credited with killing Usama bin Laden, called Platner’s remarks “way out of line” and “completely barbaric.” He said, “If you swear an oath to the country, it doesn’t matter what the politics are. Every time you fight, it’s for the person next to you. Politics goes out the window. To wish ill on someone under fire is the opposite of everything I’ve ever been raised to believe.”
Platner’s Explanation
Platner has publicly discussed his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to explain some of his past social media posts. In October, he said, “For those who have read these things and been offended… I am deeply sorry. Just know that it’s not reflective at all of who I am. I would prefer if people judge me on the person I am today, not the dumbest thing I ever wrote online.”
Pfc. Daniels responded to the post, telling Fox Business, “People like this don’t say stuff like this to my face. It’s online, and that right there tells me, Graham, you’re a coward.”
Senate Race Update
Platner became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee after two-term Governor Janet Mills ended her campaign last month. He will face Democrat David Costello in the June 9 primary for the chance to compete against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.
The controversy over Platner’s Reddit post has added a heated chapter to his Senate campaign, raising questions about accountability, respect for veterans, and how social media behaviour affects public perception.
