Dems quiet on candidate’s Nazi tattoo after slamming Hegseth’s Christian ink

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

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Mass., and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Democrat of Illinois, criticized Hegseth for his tattoos, one of which is a Jerusalem cross and another with the Latin phrase “Deus Vult” (God Wills), both 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,” a Nazi “skull” symbol tattooed on his chest.

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

ARE PETE HEGSETH’S TATTOOS SYMBOLS OF “CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM”?

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., (L) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., (R) have remained silent on progressive Senate candidate Graham Platner’s controversial tattoo. (Ben Margot/AP Photo; WGME via AP; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Fox News Digital asked if Warren and Duckworth condemn Platner because of 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 in which, among other things, she expressed concerns about his “Deus Vult” tattoo.

“You were also barred from President Biden’s inauguration because of concerns you posed an insider threat after reports that your ‘Deus Vult’ tattoo ‘was Christian expression associated with right-wing extremism,'” Warren wrote, adding, “We cannot have a Secretary of Defense whose military colleagues feel concerned enough to report him as a potential insider threat.”

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

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

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

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

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

“We thought it looked cool,” he said.

HOPEFUL MAINE SENATE DEM, BACKED BY BERNIE SANDERS, APOLOGIZES FOR NAZI-STYLE TATTOO, VOYS TO REMAIN IN THE 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 said he had “lived a life dedicated to anti-fascism, anti-racism and anti-Nazism” and was “appalled” to learn it sounded like a symbol of hate.

A Sanders spokesperson shared an Axios interview with the senator in which he said, “I’m not too impressed with a squad of media running around saying, ‘What do you think about Graham Platner’s chest tattoo?'” and “between you and me, there might be one or two other significant issues.”

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The spokesperson also shared another statement from Sanders in which he said of Platner: “Personally, I think he is a great candidate. I will support him and look forward to him becoming Maine’s next state senator.”

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

Jasmine Baehr of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.