In what’s shaping up to be one of the strangest pre-election dramas in recent Senate campaign memory, Bernie Sanders has officially entered the fray—vehemently defending Graham Platner, a former Marine turned oysterman turned Democratic candidate, who is now facing a storm of criticism over racially charged Reddit posts, divisive ideological rants, and, yes, a tattoo that looks uncomfortably similar to Nazi iconography.
Bernie about Platner,
“In all due respect, all right, what I’m worried about, 50,000 Americans may die unnecessarily? And you’re worried about a tattoo?”
When I asked about his comments about sexual assault, he said “Have you served four tours of duty?” I said “I have not.”
— Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) October 21, 2025
Platner, who hopes to unseat longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine, has been on a defensive media blitz after CNN uncovered a history of inflammatory Reddit activity.
Among his now-apologized-for posts: a declaration that “all” police officers are “bastards,” and a confessional that he had become a communist after returning from military service. But what’s sparked the most visceral reaction isn’t just his political extremism—it’s the tattoo.
I should not that Bernie was heated and pointing his hand at me. Meanwhile, Ron Johnson told @CatieEdmonson “Bernie’s Getting pissed.”
— Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) October 21, 2025
During a podcast appearance on Pod Save America, Platner lifted his shirt in a moment that perhaps will be remembered as the most ill-advised campaign decision of the cycle. There, emblazoned on his chest, was a skull and crossbones tattoo strongly resembling the Totenkopf, a symbol historically linked to Nazi SS units. Platner insists it’s nothing of the sort, claiming he drunkenly selected it from a tattoo parlor wall while stationed in Croatia with his fellow Marines. He maintains it was a “terrifying” emblem chosen to reflect the warrior mindset—not a fascist allegiance.
More on the fallout here and how Democrats are handling the Graham Platner messhttps://t.co/LL68pX0PtA
— Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) October 22, 2025
But it’s Bernie Sanders’ furious defense that has turned this from a personal PR crisis into a party-wide headache. When confronted about Platner’s past remarks and troubling tattoo, Sanders bristled. “In all due respect, alright, what I’m worried about? 50,000 Americans may die unnecessarily. And you’re worried about a tattoo?” he snapped, visibly agitated and gesturing sharply at reporters. When pressed on Platner’s remarks about sexual assault, Sanders shot back with the rhetorical sledgehammer: “Have you served four tours of duty?”
He asked *you* if you served four tours of duty as if that explains or excuses things?
— The okayest poster there is (@ok_post_guy) October 21, 2025
