Dems remain silent on progressive candidate’s Nazi-style tattoo after calling out Hegseth over the Christian symbol

Prominent Democrats who were highly critical of now Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s tattoos with crusader symbolism are now silent about a progressive Senate candidate who had a Nazi-like symbol tattooed on his chest.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., criticized Hegseth for his tattoos, one of which is a Jerusalem cross and another with the Latin phrase “Deus Vult” (God wills it), both of which are associated with the Crusades and ancient Christian symbolism.

Following their comments against Hegseth, Fox News Digital reached out to Warren and Duckworth for comment on the ongoing controversy over Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner having a “Totenkopf,” the Nazi “death’s head” symbol, tattooed on his chest.

Warren has previously expressed enthusiasm for Platner’s candidacy, tellingly Politics“I’m excited to see new people join the race for Senate,” adding, “especially those who have a strong voice that they are willing to use on behalf of people who are often ignored in the United States Senate.”

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Fox News Digital asked if Warren and Duckworth condemn Platner for the tattoo and if they think he should drop out of the race. Neither immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

During Hegseth’s confirmation hearings, Warren sent him a lengthy letter, expressing, among other things, her concerns about his “Deus Vult” tattoo.

“You were also removed from President Biden’s inauguration over concerns you posed an insider threat following reports that your ‘Deus Vult’ tattoo was ‘a Christian phrase associated with right-wing extremism,'” Warren wrote, adding: “We cannot have a Secretary of Defense whose fellow service members feel concerned enough to report as a potential insider threat.”

Even as secretary, Democrats continued to give Hegseth a hard time about the tattoos. At a hearing in June, Duckworth accused Hegseth of “blowing through money like my fellow cadets and I did during our first freedom after base camp,” adding, “Luckily I didn’t get a questionable tattoo.”

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U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks with senior military leaders at Quantico Naval Base, Virginia, September 30, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via Reuters)

Platner, a Marine veteran and progressive endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., among others, has drawn criticism for a skull-and-crossbones tattoo on his chest that closely resembles the Totenkopf symbol used by Hitler’s SS forces.

After the controversy broke, Platner said he got the tattoo in 2007 during a “night of drinking” while on leave in Croatia with the Marine Corps, claiming he was unaware of its historical associations at the time. He has since covered the image with a new tattoo of dogs.

In a video posted to Instagram Wednesday afternoon, Platner explained that the design was chosen from a flash tattoo wall while he was “carousing” with fellow Marines in Split, Croatia.

“We thought it looked cool,” he said.

MAINE DEM SENATE HOPEFUL SUPPORTED BY BERNIE SANDERS APOLOGIZES FOR NAZI STYLE TATTOO, PROMISES TO STAY IN RACE

Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at the No Kings Rally in Washington DC on October 18. (Fox News Digital/Emma Woodhead) (Fox News Digital/Emma Woodhead)

He claimed he had “lived a life dedicated to anti-fascism, anti-racism and anti-Nazism” and was “shocked” to hear it looked like a hate symbol.

A spokesperson for Sanders shared one Axios interview with the senator saying, “I’m not very impressed with a bunch of media running around saying ‘what do you think about Graham Platner’s chest tattoo?'” and “between you and me, there may be one or two more important issues.”

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The spokesperson also shared another statement from Sanders in which he said of Platner, “I personally think he is an excellent candidate. I am going to support him and I look forward to him being the next senator in the state of Maine.”

Fox News Digital also reached out to Sanders and Platner’s campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.