Robert O’Neill, the U.S. Navy SEAL known for killing Osama bin Laden, has commented on controversial social media posts by Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate from Maine. These posts have sparked significant debate.
O’Neill expressed disapproval of Platner’s comments, particularly a resurfaced Reddit post where Platner criticized a soldier wounded in a battle with Taliban fighters. Platner described the soldier in harsh terms, which O’Neill called “barbaric.” O’Neill emphasized that soldiers fight for each other, regardless of political beliefs, and such remarks go against those principles.
Platner, who struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has cited this as a reason for his inflammatory posts. O’Neill, however, rejected PTSD as an excuse for what he termed “vile hatred” displayed in Platner’s messages. He suggested Platner seek PTSD treatment, like Ibogaine therapy, instead of making harmful statements about American soldiers.
Platner’s past remarks have drawn additional scrutiny, such as a video where he criticized “American Sniper” Chris Kyle. O’Neill attributed these statements to possible jealousy over Kyle’s fame and achievements. He noted that professional jealousy is uncommon among veterans.
Fox News Digital reported that Democrats in Congress have largely stayed silent on Platner’s controversies. O’Neill accused Party leaders of ignoring the issue to secure votes, naming politicians like Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren who have refrained from commenting.
Platner’s allies have downplayed some of his posts as “locker room talk,” but O’Neill disagrees with this assessment. He pointed to evidence from Platner’s posts that suggest he might be unfit for the Senate. This includes a Nazi tattoo and wishing harm on a soldier.
O’Neill, however, acknowledged that Platner might be personally struggling and has possibly made some of these comments under the influence of alcohol. He shared his own experiences of saying regrettable things while drinking and expressed a hope to see how Platner handles the situation moving forward, believing in forgiveness.
Fox News Digital reached out to Platner’s campaign for a statement. The article’s author, Andrew Mark Miller, can be contacted via Twitter @andymarkmiller or email at [email protected].