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Graham Platner’s Nazi tattoo should have disqualified him. Now have we seen enough?

July 8, 2026 · 1 min read

(RNS) — “I cannot donate to a candidate with a Nazi tattoo.”

That was my response to a Democratic fundraising email beseeching me that my funds were the best hope to change the composition of the Senate come November. Graham Platner would never gain my support — financially, as I don’t live in Maine — particularly after his claim that he did not know what the symbol inked permanently on his chest meant (a claim a former acquaintance said was false) .

I find it even more disqualifying that a person would be so ignorant as to mark himself permanently with a symbol that celebrates death in a way that did not mean anything to him or he did not fully comprehend.

It did not seem like a complicated choice to me. No matter what fantastic agendas a candidate might promote, as someone whose family has faced violent white supremacy in a Pittsburgh synagogue shooting , I would never want to grant power to someone who harnessed the values of Nazism to his flesh.

Platner is now finally facing universal calls from Democrats for him to drop out of the race, as a woman came forward this week and accused him of rape — an allegation he denies. But it shouldn’t have taken that. Platner’s…

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Ηλίας Χατζής

I don't know about Platner, but when you say "I didn't know what a tattoo meant" about something that's permanent on your body, that in itself is a big red flag. Having a symbol associated with death and hate and then saying "I didn't get it" doesn't convince anyone. The other one with the rape charge is even worse, but really, the tattoo alone should be enough.

Hannah Collins

The tattoo alone should have ended it. Claiming you didn't know what a Nazi symbol means when it's inked on your chest for good just sounds like an excuse. The rape allegation makes it even worse, but you're right — that first bit was already a massive red flag.

Анастасия Волкова

A tattoo with a Nazi symbol on the chest is no longer a mistake, but a choice. And then saying “I didn’t know what that meant” sounds like an excuse. It’s a pity that it was only after the accusation of rape that everyone started talking about it.

Ксения Беляева

Having a Nazi symbol tattooed on your chest is truly a choice, not an accident. To say “I didn’t know what it meant” after something like this looks completely unconvincing, just as they write in the comments. It’s a pity that it was only after the accusation of rape that everyone suddenly noticed.

Роман Зайцев

I agree, Ksenia, a tattoo is not a random design, but a conscious choice for life. A friend of mine in Voronezh once made something similar for himself in his youth, then he reduced it with a laser for six months and still the mark remained. I wonder why you think the Democrats turned a blind eye to this for so long before accusing him of rape?

Emily Adams

The tattoo should have been enough on its own. Claiming you didn't know what a Nazi symbol meant when it's inked permanently on your chest just doesn't add up, as several people here have already pointed out. It's a shame it took the rape allegation for everyone to finally call for him to drop out.