Trump Calls Democratic Senate Nominee Platner ‘Thug’ and ‘Pig’ Citing His Past Inflammatory Posts, Nazi-linked Tattoo and Explicit Texts

President Donald Trump called Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner a “thug” and a “pig” during remarks in the Oval Office on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. He made the comments while signing an immigration and deportation funding bill, with Republican lawmakers present who laughed at the statements. Trump said of Platner and top Democrats, “He’s a thug, and they’re trying to make excuses for him.

He added that “Nobody’s ever had a record like that” and that Platner is “like a pig,” suggesting that “pigs would be very upset” to be associated with him. Platner clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday night, June 9, 2026. He will face five-term Republican Sen.

Susan Collins in the November election. Platner has faced criticism over past inflammatory online posts, a tattoo he had covered up that is widely recognized as a Nazi symbol, and sexually explicit texts he sent to women after getting married. Platner’s campaign said the candidate remained focused on issues facing Maine.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued a statement focused on Collins instead. Spokesperson Josh Marcus-Blank said, “Susan Collins is facing backlash in Maine after voting with Trump 96 percent of the time, being the decisive vote for the justices who overturned Roe v. ” White House spokesperson Kush Desai defended Trump’s comments.

Desai said, “Graham Platner proudly referred to himself as a ‘communist,’ called all police ‘bastards,’ and said rural White Americans ‘actually are’ racist and stupid. President Trump is absolutely correct that Platner is both a thug and a pig. ” Trump also sought to paint Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer as a hypocrite.