Graham Platner, the Democratic presumptive nominee for Senate in Maine, is facing scrutiny after resurfaced Reddit posts showed him making derogatory comments about U.S. Army soldiers and a wounded veteran who was shot by the Taliban.

The posts from his now-deleted Reddit account "P-Hustle" were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon. In one April 2019 post, Platner wrote: "I spent another 4 in the Army after the Corps, and while I was very lucky to serve in some s--- hot units with good dudes, as a whole the organization is absolute trash." He also described the Army as "full of fat, lazy trash who would rather not be in uniform."

Platner served in the Marine Corps and the Maryland Army National Guard, completing multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

What the Left Is Saying

In October, when confronted with the posts, Platner apologized. "I'm sorry for this. Just know that it's not reflective at all of who I am," he said. "I don't want you to judge me on the dumbest thing I ever wrote on the internet. I would prefer if people could judge me on the person I am today."

Platner has attributed his behavior to psychological trauma from deployments and what he called the "crude humor" common in military culture.

Some Democrats have noted that interservice rivalry often produces harsh criticism between branches, pointing out that Platner also wrote positive comments about certain Army units including Rangers, SOF, and reconnaissance forces. His posts included statements like "WE have a duty to be brutally honest" about military capabilities.

The campaign has not responded to requests for additional comment on the controversy.

What the Right Is Saying

National Republican Senatorial Committee press secretary Bernadette Breslin called the posts disqualifying. "Graham Platner's vicious attacks on wounded service members and open contempt for the Army are disgusting and disqualifying," Breslin told Fox News Digital. "The more we learn about him, the more his top Democrat allies like Elizabeth Warren are forced to dodge questions on why they ever supported him in the first place."

Former Navy SEAL and Marine veteran Adam Schwarze, who is running for Senate in Minnesota as a Republican, criticized Platner's comments about wounded service members. "We don't make jokes about our brothers and sisters dying, that's not something we do, that's not normal," Schwarze said.

The controversy comes as Platner seeks to unseat GOP incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in the Maine Senate race, where his social media history has become a major campaign issue alongside other resurfaced posts including language demeaning rural Americans and references to Marxist ideology.

What the Numbers Show

Platner's Reddit activity spans multiple years from 2013 to 2019, according to reporting on the posts. The account was confirmed by Platner as his own.

In a 2024 podcast interview, Platner also made comments implying that deceased Navy SEAL Chris Kyle killed civilians to inflate his kill numbers, saying "[Kyle's] stories about how many people he was shooting certainly tracked with the behavior I witnessed."

Polling in Maine Senate races has shown competitive dynamics in recent cycles. Collins won her 2020 reelection by approximately 9 percentage points over Democratic challenger Sara Gideon.

The Purple Heart recipient Platner criticized, Teddy Daniels, was shot by the Taliban and later awarded the medal for his wounds sustained in combat.

The Bottom Line

Platner's resurfaced posts present an immediate challenge for his campaign against Collins. He must navigate questions about comments that critics argue disqualify him from representing Maine voters, many of whom have military connections.

Republican groups are likely to continue highlighting the posts as Election Day approaches. How Platner addresses voter concerns about his past statements and whether Democratic Party leaders continue their support will be factors in determining the controversy's impact on the race.

Collins' campaign has not issued a specific statement regarding the Reddit posts, though Republicans broadly have framed them as evidence that Platner lacks the judgment to serve in the Senate. The race remains competitive with both parties investing significant resources in Maine's Senate contest.