Dem Senate candidate refuses to apologize for Reddit post where he said a Purple Heart recipient 'didn't deserve to live'

Published: 17:25, 24 May 2026 | Updated: 17:38, 24 May 2026 A Democratic Maine Senate candidate refused to apologize for a deleted Reddit post in which he said a Purple Heart recipient 'didn’t deserve to live.'  Graham Platner is running in the primary election against Maine's governor, Janet Mills, for a chance to square off with incumbent Republican Susan Collins in November. But his now-deleted Reddit account has continued to stir controversy, as a resurfaced post mocking a veteran during a standoff with Taliban fighters has come back to haunt him, Fox News Digital reported. 'This video never gets old,' the account, called 'P-Hustle,' posted in June 2019. 'Dumb motherf***er didn't deserve to live.  'At least his stupidity and fat a** wheezing are available for all future infantrymen to witness and hold in contempt,' he continued. 'Poor marksmanship on the Taliban's part is the only reason this mouthbreather made it home, he managed to make every possible s*** decision possible when it comes to small unit combat.' In the viral 2012 video he is referring to, PFC Ted Daniels is seen exchanging fire with the Taliban before being struck four times - and surviving the attack. He later earned a Purple Heart for his injuries.  Platner is a US Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and has previously acknowledged the Reddit account as his.  Graham Platner is running in the primary election against Maine's governor, Janet Mills His now-deleted Reddit account has continued to stir controversy, as a resurfaced post mocking a veteran during a standoff with Taliban fighters has come back to haunt him Platner spoke to Fox News Digital, asking : 'Do you know how many of my friends have Purple Hearts, do you know how many of my friends got wounded? Yeah, a lot of them, thank you' The deleted post is still accessible in the Maine Monitor’s database of the Democrat’s Reddit history.  In later interviews, Daniels said he intentionally exposed himself to draw fire away from other members of his unit, saying: 'I put my a** on the line for other guys.' Platner initially did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment about his mockery of the veteran or to Maine voters who were offended and demanded an apology.  But in follow up questions posed to him on camera, Platner told the outlet: 'I did four tours in the infantry, any attempt to say that I disrespect veterans is slanderous and offensive. 'Do you know how many of my friends have Purple Hearts, do you know how many of my friends got wounded? Yeah, a lot of them, thank you.' Purple Heart recipient Daniels responded to Platner's harsh criticism and said: 'I don't get offended, I've been getting attacked by the left for years. 'Honestly that not the type of leadership that we need in our government. People like this don’t say stuff like this to my face.' In the viral 2012 video, PFC Ted Daniels is seen exchanging fire with the Taliban before being struck four times He later earned a Purple Heart for his injuries. A clip from the video is pictured Ted Daniels spoke to Fox Business, calling Platner a 'coward' Platner is seen telling the outlet: 'I did four tours in the infantry, any attempt to say that I disrespect veterans is slanderous and offensive' 'It’s online, and that right there tells me, Graham, you’re a coward,' he spewed. The Maine Democrat has spoken about his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as loads of offensive social media posts resurfaced after he announced his Senate run.  Back in October, before his remarks about Daniels surfaced, Platner apologized for earlier Reddit comments.  'For those of you who have read these things and been offended, have read these things and seen someone that you don’t recognize, I am deeply sorry. 'I’m sorry for this. Just know that it’s not reflective at all of who I am. I don’t want you to judge me on the dumbest thing I ever wrote on the internet,' adding he would prefer people to judge him on the person he is today. Daily Mail reached out to Platner for comment.  The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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