Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner is reportedly drawing renewed criticism after amplifying a social media post from far-right personality Stew Peters, adding to a growing list of controversies surrounding his campaign.
Peters, who has been labeled by the Anti-Defamation League as a conspiracy theorist, Christian nationalist and “prolific” promoter of antisemitic views, posted a message Tuesday on X that read: “War with Iran is the only thing republicans and democrats have both given a standing ovation for. Let that sink in.”
The remark referenced applause from both Democrats and Republicans during President Trump’s State of the Union address, when he highlighted his administration’s actions targeting Iran’s nuclear program.
Platner shared Peters’s post and added his own commentary in a message that was later deleted.
“As always, there’s one thing that brings Republican and Democratic politicians together: sending other people’s children to die in stupid wars in the Middle East,” Platner wrote.
The decision to amplify Peters’s message quickly sparked backlash, given the figure’s controversial reputation. A spokesperson for Platner’s campaign said the candidate’s team had intended to repost a C-SPAN clip of Trump discussing a potential war with Iran and did not initially realize the video had been shared by Peters’s account.
“When we learned who the poster was we immediately deleted the post,” the spokesperson said, calling the account “despicable.”
The incident is not the first time Platner has faced controversy. Last year, he addressed criticism over a chest tattoo that some observers said resembled a Totenkopf, or “death’s head,” a symbol adopted by Adolf Hitler’s troops in Nazi Germany, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s website.
Platner ultimately covered the tattoo, arguing he had been unaware of its similarity to the Nazi-era symbol. During an appearance on the podcast “Pod Save America,” he rejected accusations that he harbored extremist views.
“I am not a secret Nazi,” Platner told co-host Tommy Vietor at the time.
That same conversation also turned to deleted Reddit posts in which Platner had described himself as a “communist,” referred to police officers as “bastards,” and wrote that rural white Americans “actually are” racist and stupid.
“I think you can pretty much figure out where I stand on Nazism and antisemitism and racism in general,” Platner said during the interview. “I would say a lifelong opponent.”
Despite the string of controversies, Platner appears to maintain strong support in Maine. A new poll released Tuesday by the University of New Hampshire shows him holding a double-digit lead over both Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and Republican Sen. Susan Collins in hypothetical matchups.
Platner has also received backing from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who has defended the candidate amid criticism over his past statements and conduct.
As the Senate race unfolds, Platner’s campaign will likely continue to face scrutiny over his social media activity and past remarks. For now, however, polling suggests that voter support remains intact, even as questions linger about judgment and associations in an increasingly high-stakes contest.
