Combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient Ted Daniels, who was shot four times during a 2012 clash with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, has responded publicly to resurfaced online comments made by Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner that mocked Daniels' survival. In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Daniels called Platner a coward for posting his remarks anonymously online rather than saying them in person.

Platner, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is the Democrats' presumptive nominee for Maine's open Senate seat after two-term Gov. Janet Mills ended her campaign last month. He would face five-term incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the November general election if he wins the June primary.

The controversy centers on a now-deleted Reddit post from June 2019, first reported by the Maine Monitor's database of Platner's deleted online history. Under the username 'P-Hustle,' which Platner has acknowledged owning, he reacted to a viral helmet-cam video showing Daniels being shot during the Taliban ambush.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive voices and some veteran advocates have called for context around Platner's remarks while acknowledging they were deeply offensive. Supporters note that Platner himself served four combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, with his own experiences potentially shaping his online behavior in ways he now regrets. Some Democratic strategists argue that the focus should remain on policy differences between candidates rather than social media posts from years ago.

Platner has not issued a direct public statement responding to Daniels' latest criticism as of publication time. His campaign previously addressed earlier revelations about his Reddit history, though no specific defense of the comments targeting Daniels was provided in available records. Veterans groups aligned with Democratic causes have largely declined to comment on the record about Platner's posts.

What the Right Is Saying

Republican officials and conservative commentators have seized on the posts as evidence that Platner is unfit for federal office. Sen. Susan Collins, who would face Platner if he wins the Democratic primary, said through a spokesperson that she found the remarks 'deeply troubling.' Conservative media outlets ran extensive coverage of the Reddit comments throughout the week.

Veterans organizations including the American Legion and VFW chapters in Maine released statements condemning Platner's posts as antithetical to the values of military service. Former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle's widow also weighed in, after Platner had previously accused the late 'American Sniper' of killing civilians to inflate his numbers — a claim Daniels called baseless during his interview.

What the Numbers Show

The Maine Monitor documented more than 1,000 deleted Reddit posts from the account attributed to Platner. The posts included not only remarks about Daniels but also statements praising Hamas military tactics, describing himself as a 'communist' and 'socialist,' alleged homophobic language, and comments supporting Antifa. The volume and nature of the posts have raised questions about whether they represent a pattern of behavior that voters should consider.

Daniels was struck by four bullets during the 2012 Taliban attack in Afghanistan. He received the Purple Heart for his injuries. His helmet-cam footage of the firefight, which captured him being shot, went viral before Platner commented on it in 2019 under the now-deleted username.

Polling conducted in late May shows Collins with a narrow lead over potential Democratic challengers, though Platner's primary has not yet been decided. The Reddit controversy emerged after early polling suggested the race could be competitive in the fall.

The Bottom Line

Daniels said he learned about Platner's post while having coffee with his wife and initially asked whether it came from a liberal before learning who authored it. He called on Platner to undergo therapy for attacking other service members, including Chris Kyle, whom Daniels described as 'an American hero.'

The controversy adds a personal dimension to what was already expected to be a closely watched Senate race in a state that has trended more Democratic in recent federal elections but where Collins has maintained strong crossover appeal. Whether the Reddit posts will significantly impact Platner's primary chances remains unclear, as early voting by mail has already begun for some voters ahead of the June contest.

Daniels said he plans to continue publicly challenging what he called 'violent rhetoric' and online attacks against veterans and service members.