Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine, is now reportedly facing backlash after resurfaced online comments showed him mocking a wounded American soldier seen in a combat video from Afghanistan.
The comments, first highlighted by Fox News Digital, centered on footage from 2012 showing Ted Daniels, a Purple Heart recipient, engaged in a firefight with the Taliban. In the video, Daniels can be heard shouting “Help me” and “I’m hit” while under enemy fire.
Responding to the clip in a 2019 Reddit post, Platner reportedly wrote, “This video never gets old,” before launching into a crude attack on Daniels, calling him a “dumb mother f*cker” and criticizing his actions during combat. Platner also claimed that “poor marksmanship on the Taliban’s part” was the only reason Daniels survived the encounter.
The resurfaced comments have drawn renewed attention not only because of their harsh tone, but because Daniels later described the terrifying circumstances surrounding the firefight. In an interview previously cited by The Washington Post, the veteran said his squad had been pinned down by Taliban machine-gun fire and that he deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire in an effort to help his fellow soldiers reach safety.
“I put my ass on the line for other guys,” Daniels said. “I still functioned even though I was scared to death.”
Daniels also described the emotional toll of reliving the event after footage of the incident circulated online. According to the article, he said his hands shook the first time he watched the video and that he struggled to sleep or eat in the days afterward.
Platner’s campaign did not respond to Fox News’ request for comment regarding the remarks.
Other deleted Reddit comments attributed to Platner have also resurfaced. In one, he suggested women concerned about sexual assault should “take some responsibility for themselves.” In another, he made a vulgar joke involving portable toilets. Platner later defended at least one of the comments as “sh*tposting” and told Fox that critics should read the remarks “in context.”
“It’s very clear I’m joking,” Platner said.
The controversy arrives as Platner prepares to challenge incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in November’s general election. Collins, a moderate Republican, is seeking a sixth term in the Senate.
The episode underscores how old social media posts and anonymous online commentary continue to reshape modern political campaigns, especially as candidates from both parties face growing scrutiny over remarks made years earlier. But the controversy also touches a deeper nerve in a country that has spent decades sending troops into overseas conflicts while veterans often return home carrying lasting physical and emotional scars.
Even in politically polarized times, attacks directed at wounded service members tend to provoke strong reactions, particularly when they involve combat veterans recognized for injuries sustained in battle. Daniels’ account of risking his life to protect fellow soldiers stands in sharp contrast to the mocking tone of the resurfaced posts.
At the same time, the incident serves as another reminder of the disconnect that can emerge between online culture and the real-world consequences of war. Videos of combat that circulate across the internet may be treated casually by some viewers years later, but for those who lived through the violence firsthand, the memories often remain immediate and deeply personal.
With the Maine Senate race now drawing national attention, Platner’s resurfaced remarks are likely to become a central point of political debate heading into the fall campaign season.
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