Bill Maher calls Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner scary but backs him
Maine voters speak out about Graham Platner’s controversies
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has been embroiled in controversy over his past behavior, including allegations of harassment from ex-girlfriends and a controversial tattoo he previously received. Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams details the divided views among Maine voters as Platner prepares to run Tuesday against GOP incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna’s support for Platner is also highlighted.
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Bill Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time,” endorsed Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Friday, saying he supports the Democratic race despite some of Platner’s “horrible” positions and actions.
“I still urge people in Maine to vote for him for two reasons.” Maher said after listing numerous controversies. “First, we need to restore balance to our government, and the Democratic Senate will be very helpful in that regard.”
He then added, “And secondly, get used to it. America is a country full of corrupt, terribly educated, phone-addicted, kind of crazy people. And as long as we live in a representative democracy, we’re always picking our reflection in the mirror. I wish the tattoo were the scariest thing about Platner. It’s not. That would be his solution to trespassing, which is to rape the home invader.”
Lyndsey Fifield said Platner had previously told her: “If anyone breaks in here, I’ll rape them,” according to a woman who had previously been with Platner and expressed concerns about allegations of disturbing behavior. Lyndsey Fifield stated that Platner instead wanted to dominate them through penetration and believed rape was about power.
A GROWING LIST OF DEBATES THAT THREATEN DEMOCRATIC GRAHAM PLATNER’S MAIN SENATE BID
The separation of Bill Maher and Graham Platner. (River Callaway/Getty Images, CJ Gunther/Getty Images)
“Let’s be realistic about Graham Platner” Maher said. “The real story is this: Democrats can likely take back the Senate in November if they win Maine. But their local candidate … after this week’s primary, is, let’s say, a guy whose past screams ‘don’t ask,'” Maher said.
“I’m not judging Graham Platner anymore because I’m just learning who he is,” Maher continued. “The thing is, so is he. What I do know is that he served his country in the war in the Marines, and you can never underestimate how great that was. But then there’s the sexting, um, scary behavior while he was married. Let’s say some of his exes, old posts about how he was a communist and all cops are bastards and black people don’t leave tips.”
Platner, who officially became the Democratic nominee to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, earlier this week, has grappled with her past that has resurfaced; He received criticism for allegedly making suggestive statements about sexual abuse, race and terrorism, and threatening behavior towards women.
He was also criticized for a tattoo on his chest that resembles the Nazi “Totenkopf,” or Death’s Head, a symbol used by concentration camp guards.
“And of course he has the Nazi tattoo on his chest,” Maher said. “I mean seriously, this guy’s whole life is the movie ‘The Hangover’. He doesn’t need to serve one term in the Senate. He needs to take a year off in Costa Rica.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Platner for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Maher said Mainers should vote for Platner.
SHARED “OPINION” AFTER HOSTIN SAID “I WILL HOLD MY NOSE” AND VOTED FOR SCANDAL GRAHAM PLATNER
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks to a packed crowd outside a campaign event on Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo)
Later in the episode, Maher also touched on President Donald Trump’s communication style, associating him with a new wave of politicians for whom outlandish behavior or comments are no big deal.
NYT PANEL DISCUSSES WHETHER GRAHAM PLATNER IS A ‘DIRTY BAG’ TO TRUMP ERA POLITICS OR IS THE DEMOCRATS’ ANSWER
Graham Platner addresses the crowd at a watch party after winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate at the YMCA on June 9, 2026 in Blue Hill, Maine. Platner will face Republican Senator Susan Collins in the election for the seat. (Matthew Symons for Fox News Digital)
“Our current president is speaking his inner monologue out loud,” Maher said.
“You know what an internal monologue is, right?” he asked. “This is the stream of thoughts that we all constantly have flowing through our heads and that we regulate. We regulate our thoughts. We don’t just throw out all our excrement. There’s a Strait of Hormuz between our brain and our mouth where we don’t let everything pass through. But that’s not the case with the US president.”
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Fox News’ Charles Creitz, Leo Briceno and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
