Sen. Susan Collins condemned resurfaced Reddit posts from her presumptive Democratic challenger, Graham Platner, that mocked Pfc. Ted Daniels, a Purple Heart recipient shot four times in a 2012 firefight. The comments, posted in 2019 from an account Platner has acknowledged owning, include crude language and taunts about the soldier’s survival. A Collins-aligned super PAC launched a website compiling Platner’s controversial posts as part of an effort backed by more than $4 million in attack ads. If both win their primaries next month, they would meet in Maine’s Nov. 3 general election.
Collins Condemns Challenger After Resurfaced Reddit Posts Mock Wounded U.S. Soldier
Sen. Susan Collins blasts Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner for an old Reddit post in which he mocked a wounded U.S. soldier.(Getty Images)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) sharply criticized her likely Democratic opponent, Graham Platner, after resurfaced Reddit posts showed comments mocking a wounded U.S. soldier. The exchanges, posted under a now-deleted account Platner has acknowledged owning, prompted renewed scrutiny as the Maine Senate race heats up.
Resurfaced Posts and Reactions
Media reports and watchdog databases, including a collection maintained by the Maine Monitor, have compiled a series of deleted Reddit comments attributed to the account "P-Hustle." Among them is a 2019 comment reacting to a helmet-camera video of Pfc. Ted Daniels — a Purple Heart recipient who was shot four times during a 2012 firefight with Taliban fighters.
“It’s never appropriate to mock a downed American soldier. It’s just appalling.”
— Sen. Susan Collins
One preserved comment reads: "Dumb motherf----- didn't deserve to live," and other posts mocked Daniels’ appearance and battlefield conduct. Platner has previously acknowledged owning the deleted account, and the posts have been cited repeatedly by critics.
Senatorial candidate Graham Platner speaks at a town hall at the Leavitt Theater in Ogunquit, Maine, on Oct. 22, 2025.
Campaign Fallout
A super PAC aligned with Collins, Pine Tree Results, this week launched a website cataloguing what it calls Platner’s "red flags," highlighting the resurfaced Reddit posts among other controversies. Republican-aligned groups have already spent more than $4 million on attack ads targeting Platner as part of the broader effort to defend Collins’ seat.
When asked about the breadth of the material in circulation, Collins told reporters she needed specifics because multiple controversial entries have surfaced: "You’d have to narrow your question down because there are so many."
Race Outlook
Collins’ Senate seat is viewed as one of the most competitive Republican defenses heading into the 2026 cycle, drawing national attention and outside spending. Democrats remain hopeful Platner can win the seat for their party, while Republicans emphasize the posts to question his character.
If both candidates win their primary contests next month, they are expected to face off in Maine’s general election on Nov. 3. The dispute over the Reddit posts adds another point of contention in what is likely to be a closely watched campaign.
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