Pfc. Ted Daniels, a Purple Heart recipient injured in Afghanistan, spoke out after resurfaced online comments from Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner mocked his combat service. Daniels said on The Ingraham Angle that PTSD cannot excuse such behavior.
“Graham Platner is the poster child for people who suffer with PTSD, and it’s an embarrassment to veterans, first responders, sexual assault survivors, and anyone facing trauma,” Daniels said Tuesday.
Controversial Reddit Post
The controversy arose from a deleted Reddit post linked to Platner’s account “P-Hustle.” The post referred to a 2012 helmet-cam video of Daniels fighting Taliban operatives, saying, in part, “Dumb motherf—– didn’t deserve to live… Poor marksmanship on the Taliban’s part is the only reason this mouthbreather made it home.”
Platner, a former U.S. Marine who served three tours in Iraq and a fourth in Afghanistan with the Maryland Army National Guard, has defended his past online activity by citing personal struggles with PTSD and depression. He stated that his posts were a way to vent feelings of anger and isolation.
Daniels Rejects PTSD Justification
Daniels emphasized that while he empathizes with Platner’s mental health challenges, they cannot excuse “poor decisions and abhorrent behavior.” He noted that he has not received a personal apology, adding that others, including Gold Star families, are more deserving of it.
“I don’t need an apology,” Daniels said. “Who deserves the apology is every Gold Star family out there who lost a loved one in combat because people like Graham Platner are online cheering for their death.”
Platner’s Campaign Context
Platner, who recently won Maine’s Democratic Senate primary, will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the November general election. His campaign has faced scrutiny over multiple controversies, including allegations of sexting during his marriage and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, which Platner said he obtained during a night of drinking while on leave in Croatia and covered up after realizing its offensive resemblance.
Platner posted an apology in October 2025 on X, stating, “As I read through them, I read things that I absolutely do not agree with… words and statements that I abhor.”
