Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Maine, has apologised for a series of past social media posts in which he referred to himself as a "communist," criticised police, and made disparaging comments about rural, white Americans. In a video posted on X on Friday, Platner said: "For those of you who have read these things and been offended, have read these things and seen someone that you don't recognise, I am deeply sorry." Platner, an Army and Marine veteran, told CNN that the posts, some dating back to his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, reflected a period of "disillusionment" after returning from military service. "When I got back from Afghanistan in 2011, I stayed in the Army for another year. I got out in 2012. Some of the worst comments I made, the things that I think are least defensible, that I wouldn't even try to defend, come from that time," he said. He added: "I made comments that I'm not happy about, that I do not agree with, but they came from a time and place in my life… As I read through the comments that were released, I can see myself changing. My language gets less crude, my thoughts and my feelings get a lot less kind of rough around the edges." Platner acknowledged that some Reddit posts described himself as a "communist" or "a vegetable-growing, psychedelics-taking, socialist." He wrote: "After the war, I've pretty much stopped believing in any of the patriotic nonsense that got me there in the first place, and am a firm believer that the best thing a person can do is help their neighbours and live a loving life." In interviews, Platner stressed that these posts no longer reflect his views. "I'm not a communist. I'm not a socialist. I own a small business. I'm a Marine Corps veteran," he told CNN. He also addressed posts criticising law enforcement, including one in which he wrote in 2021: "Bastards. Cops are bastards. All of them, in fact," and another in 2020 commenting on rural white Americans: "Living in white rural America, I'm afraid to tell you they actually are [racist]." Platner said his views have evolved as he became less isolated and built a community in Maine. "I was in different places that I'm not in now, I had different feelings that I don't have now, I had different thoughts and opinions that I certainly don't have now, but I am very proud of the person I am today," he said. "While I won't defend things I said in the past, I will just say that if it wasn't for that entire journey, I would not be who I am today, and I'm incredibly proud of who I am today." Who is Graham Platner? Graham Platner is a Marine and US Army veteran, oyster farmer, and chair of the Sullivan Planning Board. He is running in the Democratic primary for the US Senate in Maine, seeking to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins. After graduating high school in 2003, Platner enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served multiple tours in Iraq before joining the Maryland Army National Guard and deploying to Afghanistan. Following his military service, he struggled with undiagnosed PTSD and physical injuries, eventually returning to Maine and focusing on serving his local community. Platner began working on a small oyster farm in Sullivan in 2018, later taking ownership and expanding the business. He also operates a diving and mooring service and serves as Sullivan's Harbormaster and Planning Board Chair. Platner met Amy Gertner in 2023 and married soon after. The couple lives in Sullivan with two dogs, Gryffin and Zevon, and a cat, Neptune. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
Who is Graham Platner, an Oyster Farmer Running for Senate in Maine?
Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Maine, has apologised for a series of past social media posts in which he referred to himself as a "communist," criticised police, and made disparaging comments about rural, white Americans. In a video posted on X on Friday, Platner said: "For those of you who have read these things and been offended, have read these things and seen someone that you don't recognise, I am deeply sorry." Platner, an Army and Marine veteran, told CNN that the posts, some dating back to his time in Iraq and Afghanistan, reflected a period of "disillusionment" after returning from military service. "When I got back from Afghanistan in 2011, I stayed in the Army for another year. I got out in 2012. Some of the worst comments I made, the things that I think are least defensible, that I wouldn't even try to defend, come from that time," he said. He added: "I made comments that I'm not happy about, that I do not agree with, but they came from a time and place in my life… As I read through the comments that were released, I can see myself changing. My language gets less crude, my thoughts and my feelings get a lot less kind of rough around the edges." Platner acknowledged that some Reddit posts described himself as a "communist" or "a vegetable-growing, psychedelics-taking, socialist." He wrote: "After the war, I've pretty much stopped believing in any of the patriotic nonsense that got me there in the first place, and am a firm believer that the best thing a person can do is help their neighbours and live a loving life." In interviews, Platner stressed that these posts no longer reflect his views. "I'm not a communist. I'm not a socialist. I own a small business. I'm a Marine Corps veteran," he told CNN. He also addressed posts criticising law enforcement, including one in which he wrote in 2021: "Bastards. Cops are bastards. All of them, in fact," and another in 2020 commenting on rural white Americans: "Living in white rural America, I'm afraid to tell you they actually are [racist]." Platner said his views have evolved as he became less isolated and built a community in Maine. "I was in different places that I'm not in now, I had different feelings that I don't have now, I had different thoughts and opinions that I certainly don't have now, but I am very proud of the person I am today," he said. "While I won't defend things I said in the past, I will just say that if it wasn't for that entire journey, I would not be who I am today, and I'm incredibly proud of who I am today." Who is Graham Platner? Graham Platner is a Marine and US Army veteran, oyster farmer, and chair of the Sullivan Planning Board. He is running in the Democratic primary for the US Senate in Maine, seeking to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins. After graduating high school in 2003, Platner enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served multiple tours in Iraq before joining the Maryland Army National Guard and deploying to Afghanistan. Following his military service, he struggled with undiagnosed PTSD and physical injuries, eventually returning to Maine and focusing on serving his local community. Platner began working on a small oyster farm in Sullivan in 2018, later taking ownership and expanding the business. He also operates a diving and mooring service and serves as Sullivan's Harbormaster and Planning Board Chair. Platner met Amy Gertner in 2023 and married soon after. The couple lives in Sullivan with two dogs, Gryffin and Zevon, and a cat, Neptune. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
