Maine Democrat Graham Platner won’t apologize to wounded Purple Heart vet
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FIRST ON FOX: SULLIVAN, ME – Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner refused to apologize to both voters and a Purple Heart recipient when asked by Fox News Digital about a deleted Reddit post in which he said the wounded soldier “didn’t deserve to live.”
Platner did not initially respond when asked if he regretted making the post outside a convenience store near his home. Fox News Digital reported Earlier this week, a video showed him mocking Pfc. Ted Daniels was captured during a 2012 firefight with Taliban fighters that resulted in Daniels being shot four times and being awarded a Purple Heart.
“I served four tours in the infantry, any attempt to say that I disrespected veterans is slanderous and offensive,” Platner said when asked follow-up questions about what he would say to Maine voters offended by his post and whether he should apologize to Daniels.
“Do you think you owe him an apology?” Fox News Digital asked again.
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Fox News Digital spoke with Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner near his home in Maine on Saturday about the recent controversy surrounding his posts that resurfaced on Reddit; this included a comment mocking a U.S. soldier with a Purple Heart. (Fox News Digital)
“Do you know how many of my friends have Purple Hearts, do you know how many of my friends have been injured?” Platner responded and added: “Yes, most of them, thank you.”
Platner, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, sparked significant outrage online for a post that resurfaced on Reddit this week, which critics said showed a lack of respect for his fellow soldiers.
In June 2019, Platner posted “This video never gets old” using the Reddit account “P-Hustle”, which he admitted to owning. viral video From the helmet Daniels wore while taking enemy fire.
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Maine Democratic Senatorial candidate Graham Platner is facing renewed criticism over his deleted Reddit history. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“Stupid mother—— did not deserve to live. At least her stupidity and fat growl are something all future infantrymen can witness and despise. The Taliban’s poor marksmanship is the only reason this mouth-breathing man came home. He managed to make every possible decision possible when it came to small unit warfare.”
Rob O’Neill US Navy The SEAL credited with killing Osama bin Laden was one of many veterans who spoke in response to the post.
“Mr. Platner was way out of line speaking about a soldier that way,” O’Neill told Fox News Digital on Thursday about the controversy.
PLATNER’S SAVAGE ATTACKS ON ARMY SOLDIERS ARE REVEALED AS ‘FAT, LAZY’ IN RE-EMERGED SHARES
Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, holds an energy event in Ellsworth, Maine, on Monday, May 11, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
“This is completely barbaric,” O’Neill added. “I don’t understand. If you swear an oath to your country, it doesn’t even matter what the politics are. Every time you fight, it’s for the guy next to you, it’s for the guy next to you. Politics goes out the window. And it’s only fair to wish ill upon someone under fire like that, you know, like I said, it’s the exact opposite of everything I was raised to believe.”
Platner has previously bent on his struggle He has been blamed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to explain numerous provocative social media posts that have emerged since he announced his candidacy for the Senate.
“I’m so sorry for those of you who read these and are offended, who read these and see someone you don’t know,” Platner said in October, before the post about Daniels and other posts disparaging the military were made public.
“I’m sorry about this. Just know that this doesn’t reflect who I am. I don’t want you to judge me by the stupidest thing I’ve ever written on the internet. I’d rather people judge me for the person I am today.”
Daniels himself also reacted to this post: I tell Fox Business“People like this don’t say things like that to my face.”
“It’s on the internet, and that tells me you’re a coward, Graham.”
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Platner became the presumptive Democratic nominee after his rival for the nomination, two-term Gov. Janet Mills, ended her campaign last month after outpacing Platner in polling and fundraising.
The Democratic Senate Primary Election in Maine is set for June 9, where Platner will be on the ballot alongside Democrat David Costello to win the right to face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
