OGUNQUIT,Maine (October 23,2025) – Democratic maine Senate candidate โGrahamโฃ Platner addressed renewed scrutiny Wednesday โฃregarding a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol,stating it has been covered. The โฃrevelation, surfacing amid a competitive Senate race,โ prompted Platner to publicly acknowledge past controversial statements and offer โคexplanations to voters.
The controversy centers on a tattoo Platner acquired years ago, which โcritics allegeโข bears โresemblance to a Sonnenrad, โa symbol appropriatedโค by Nazi โขgroups. Platner,โข speaking at a town โขhall in Ogunquit, โMaine, confirmed the tattoo’s existence but asserted it has as been covered by another design. The issue resurfaced alongside past โขReddit posts containing inflammatory language, creating a challenge for the candidate as he seeks โฃtoโ appeal to a broad electorate. The Senate race is considered pivotal in determining control ofโ the chamber.
“I am โขashamed of things I once said. But โคI am not ashamedโ of who I โขam today,” Platner โฃtold the crowd, โreceiving applause. He addressed the tattoo and the Reddit history, attempting to contextualize his past actionsโ and emphasize โhis current values.
Outside the โrally,Eliot,Maine,resident โฃDavid Tufts said he believes Platner has adequately addressed theโ recent controversies. tufts indicated his supportโ for Platner stems fromโฃ the candidate’s positions โon increasing taxes on the wealthy and advocating for a non-interventionist โคforeign policy.
“I feel like he has done a pretty good job ofโ explainingโ the Reddit history,โ the tattoo. I feel like I kind of understand where he was coming from,” Tufts said, adding that whileโ the revelations โคhaven’tโ necessarily strengthened his confidence, he remains committed to the campaign.
The โขAssociated Press’s michelle Kruesi contributed to this report from Providence, Rhode Island.
