Fox News host Brian Kilmeade delivered a blistering critique of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Friday following a bombshell New York Times report detailing allegations from several women who described what the newspaper characterized as “unsettling” behavior by the Democratic hopeful.
The report has added another layer of controversy to a campaign already burdened by a series of damaging revelations, including scrutiny surrounding a tattoo Platner once wore on his chest that has been linked to Nazi symbolism.
During a discussion of the Times article on Fox News, Kilmeade and his co-hosts examined the growing allegations against Platner. The report included accounts from former girlfriends who accused him of demeaning conduct, physical behavior they found troubling, and references to what one woman claimed he called “my Totenkopf,” a reference to the controversial tattoo that has become a recurring issue in the race.
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt described the Times story as “a gift for Republicans,” arguing that the allegations could prove politically damaging as voters continue to evaluate the candidates seeking to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate.
Kilmeade went even further.
Drawing comparisons to another recent Democratic controversy, Kilmeade said the allegations reminded him of those that surrounded former Congressman Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign in California. Swalwell ultimately ended his bid after allegations of sexual misconduct and rape emerged during the race.
“I haven’t even heard a Republican weigh in on Platner because he is such a flawed candidate,” Kilmeade said during the segment.
The Fox host argued that the issues raised in the Times report extended beyond ordinary political disagreements and instead raised broader questions about Platner’s character.
“By the way, in Maine, in Democrats, this is not only a questionable character,” Kilmeade said. “This is one of the worst people in Maine, it seems, by what we know about him already.”
Kilmeade also took aim at Platner’s political image and messaging, noting that the Democrat has been portrayed by some supporters as a figure capable of helping reconnect the Democratic Party with male voters. He questioned whether party leaders adequately examined Platner’s background before embracing his candidacy.
“This is what new leadership looks like,” Kilmeade said. “This is a disciple of Bernie Sanders. And now has to apologize for his background.”
He later added, “I don’t know who does background checks now, but did they even Google him before they anointed him?”
As the conversation continued, Earhardt pointed to several aspects of the Times report that she described as troubling. Kilmeade responded by arguing that the controversy surrounding Platner’s tattoo remained the most significant issue.
Platner has denied knowingly selecting a Nazi symbol when he got the tattoo. He has said he received it alongside fellow Marines during a trip to Croatia in 2007 and did not understand its meaning at the time. The tattoo has since been covered up. However, CNN reporting has raised questions about his claim that he was unaware of the symbol’s historical significance.
Despite the growing list of controversies, Platner remains competitive in the race. According to a new UMass Lowell poll, he currently holds a slight lead over incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
The race is now unfolding against a backdrop of escalating scrutiny, with questions about character and judgment increasingly taking center stage as voters look ahead to Election Day.
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