Dems quiet on candidate’s Nazi tattoo after slamming Hegseth’s Christian ink
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Prominent Democrats who were highly critical of current Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s tattoos featuring crusader symbolism are now keeping quiet about a progressive Senate candidate who got a Nazi symbol tattooed on his chest.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., criticized Hegseth for his beatings; one tattoo bore a Jerusalem cross, the other bore the Latin phrase “Deus Vult” (God wills it); both were associated with the crusades and ancient Christian symbolism.
Following their comments against Hegseth, Fox News Digital reached out to Warren and Duckworth for comment on the ongoing controversy surrounding Maine Senate Democratic candidate Graham Platner’s tattoo of the “Totenkopf,” or Nazi “death’s head” symbol, on his chest.
Warren has previously expressed her excitement about Platner’s candidacy. Policy“I’m excited to see new people enter the Senate race,” he said, adding, “Especially those who have a strong voice in the U.S. Senate on behalf of people who are often overlooked and are willing to use it.”
ARE PETE HEGSETH’S TATTOOS A SYMBOL OF ‘CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM’?
Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, points to a covered tattoo, an image previously considered a Nazi symbol, during an interview in Portland, Me., on Wednesday. (WGME via AP)
Fox News Digital asked whether Warren and Duckworth condemned Platner for his beating and whether they believe he should drop out of the race. Neither immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
During Hegseth’s confirmation hearings, Warren sent him an extensive letter expressing concerns about his “Deus Vult” tattoo, among other issues.
“You were also removed from President Biden’s inauguration due to concerns that you were an insider threat following reports that your ‘Deus Vult’ tattoo was ‘a Christian phrase associated with right-wing extremism,'” Warren wrote, adding: “We cannot have a Secretary of Defense whose fellow soldiers are concerned enough to report him as a potential insider threat.”
Democrats continued to give Hegseth a hard time about the tattoos, even as secretary. During a hearing in June, Duckworth accused Hegseth of “throwing away money like my fellow students and I did on our first freedom after boot camp,” adding: “Fortunately, I didn’t encounter any suspicious tattoos.”
‘MAINE’S MAMDANI’: Maine GOP CHIEF PUBLISHES WARNING ABOUT NEW CHALLENGER WHO WANTS TO TAKE OFF SUSAN COLLINS
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks with senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., Sept. 30, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Pool, via Reuters)
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Platner, a veteran sailor and progressive who was supported by the U.S., faced widespread criticism for the skull and crossbones tattoo on his chest that closely resembled the Totenkopf symbol used by Hitler’s SS forces.
After the controversy broke out, Platner claimed that he had gotten the tattoo during a “drinking night” in Croatia in 2007 while he was on leave from the Marine Corps, and that he did not know the tattoo’s historical associations at the time. He has since covered the image with another dog tattoo.
In a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon, Platner explained that the design was selected from a wall of flash tattoos while “carousing” with fellow sailors in Split, Croatia.
“We thought it looked great,” he said.
SUPPORTED BY MAINE DEM SENATE BERNIE SANDERS, APOLOGIES FOR NAZI-STYLE TATTOO, SAYS HE WILL REMAIN IN THE RACE
Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at the No Kings Rally in Washington, DC, on October 18. (Fox News Digital/Emma Woodhead) (Fox News Digital/Emma Woodhead)
He claimed that he had “lived a life dedicated to anti-fascism, anti-racism and anti-Nazism” and was “horrified” to learn that it resembled a hate symbol.
Sanders’ spokesperson shared: Aksios interview “I’m not very impressed with a media crew going around saying, ‘What do you think about the tattoo on Graham Platner’s chest?'” and “there may be one or two other important issues between you and me,” the senator said.
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The spokesperson also shared another statement Sanders made about Platner: “Personally, I think he is an excellent candidate. I will support him and look forward to him being the next senator from Maine.”
Fox News Digital also reached out to Sanders and Platner’s campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.
