{"id":2608406,"date":"2026-05-29T18:36:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T22:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-platner-questioned-armenian-genocide-on-reddit-report\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T18:37:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T22:37:39","slug":"graham-platner-questioned-armenian-genocide-on-reddit-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-platner-questioned-armenian-genocide-on-reddit-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Graham Platner questioned Armenian genocide on Reddit: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgraham-platner-questioned-armenian-genocide-on-reddit-report%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608406&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Maine progressive Senate candidate Graham Platner faced backlash after a deleted 2016 Reddit comment questioned whether the Ottoman Empire\u2019s early-20th-century mass killing of Armenians \u201cwas in fact genocide.\u201d The post argued that Turkey admits the events occurred, but framed the key dispute as whether it qualifies as genocide or a wartime mass killing\/displacement.<\/p>\n<p>The article also notes that Turkey\u2019s official position describes the Armenian narrative as one-sided and rejects the genocide characterization, often citing claims that casualty numbers are exaggerated and that Armenians collaborated with foreign powers. It contrasts this with arguments by historian Taner Ak\u00e7am, who says Ottoman archives indicate genocidal intent.<\/p>\n<p>Armenian-American leaders said Platner should clarify his views, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-ex-wh-counsel-mcgahn-to-testify-next-week-about-mueller-report\/\" title=\"Trump&#039;s Ex-WH Counsel McGahn to Testify Next Week About Mueller Report\">report mentions<\/a> his later comments linking the \u201cgenocide in Gaza\u201d to a worldwide human-rights principle. The controversy comes alongside other scrutiny of his past social media behaviour, including remarks about an American soldier and comments about his time in Afghanistan, as well as criticism from Rep. Jake Auchincloss over a Nazi \u201cDeath\u2019s Head\u201d tattoo. Polling and political analysts described the contest against Sen. Susan Collins as a toss-up, according to the Cook Political Report, and the outlet reports it sought comment from Platner\u2019s campaign.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maine progressive Senate candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22643\">Graham Platner<\/a> questioned whether the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >mass-killing<\/a> of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century \u201cwas in fact genocide\u201d in a now-deleted 2016 Reddit comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The revelation of the post, first by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/democrats\/its-important-to-get-the-facts-straight-graham-platner-questioned-the-armenian-genocide-in-now-deleted-post-called-mass-slaughter-an-incident\/\"><em>Washington Free Beacon<\/em><\/a>  on Friday, came amid national scrutiny into Platner\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cancel-culture-media-calls-for-rep-marjorie-taylor-greene-to-resign-over-past-comments-rep-greene-hits-back\/\" title=\"Cancel Culture Media Calls for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to Resign Over Past ... \u2014 Rep. Greene HITS BACK\">past comments<\/a> on social media. In other posts, Platner <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/3856055\/graham-platner-soldier-shot-didnt-deserve-to-live-reddit\/\">mocked<\/a> an American soldier shot four times during a Taliban firefight as a \u201cfat a**\u201d who \u201cdidn\u2019t deserve to live\u201d and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4577942\/platner-trump-like-response-maine-scandals-polls\/\">recalled<\/a> his experience masturbating in a public toilet while deployed to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4587190\/democrats-blanche-patel-bondi-epstein-questions\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democrats eye Blanche and Patel subpoenas after Bondi deflects Epstein questions<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4587261\/jane-fonda-endorses-karen-bass\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Jane Fonda endorses Karen Bass in Los Angeles mayoral race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4586875\/multiple-dead-after-bus-crash-virginia\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Multiple dead after bus crashes on I-95 in northern Virginia<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the 2016 post, Platner wrote that Turkey \u201cfully admits the incident happened\u201d and that \u201cthe issue\u201d is whether it was a genocide or a \u201cmass killing\/displacement during wartime.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m no fan of Turkey,\u201d Platner said. \u201cBut it\u2019s important to get the facts straight.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet Turkey\u2019s attitude toward the event is more ambiguous than the oyster farmer and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodmorningamerica.com\/news\/story\/maine-democratic-senate-candidate-regrets-deleted-internet-posts-126636744\">self-styled populist<\/a> made it out to be. Ankara\u2019s official view, as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mfa.gov.tr\/the-events-of-1915-and-the-turkish-armenian-controversy-over-history_-an-overview.en.mfa\">outlined<\/a> by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, is that the Armenian view of history \u201cselects the Armenian suffering, embellishes it in several ways and presents it as a genocide\u2014a crime defined in international law\u2014perpetrated by Turks against Armenians.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWithout belittling the tragic consequences for any group, T\u00fcrkiye objects to the one-sided presentation of this tragedy as a genocide by one group against another,\u201d the ministry stated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Turkish position often centers on the claim that the number of dead is exaggerated and that Armenians conspired with foreign powers during World War I. Yet Turkish historian Taner Ak\u00e7am <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.usf.edu\/gsp\/vol1\/iss2\/5\/\">argues<\/a> that surviving Ottoman archives \u201copenly show the genocidal intent of the Ottoman authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is an opportunity for Graham to codify his view on the Armenian genocide,\u201d Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, told the <em>Washington<\/em> <em>Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThere are about 4,000 Armenians in Maine who would be very interested in what he has to say.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an October 2025 tweet, Platner <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/1975664888862200047\">wrote<\/a> that \u201cthe genocide in Gaza is the moral test of our time.\u201d That statement, he added, is \u201crooted in a belief in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-biden-tells-turkish-president-erdogan-he-will-recognize-armenian-genocide\/\" title=\"Report: Biden Tells Turkish President Erdogan He Will Recognize ...\">universal human rights<\/a>, in the belief that every life has dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4584311\/graham-platner-lead-susan-collins-9-points-maine-senate-poll\/\"><strong>GRAHAM PLATNER LEADS SUSAN COLLINS BY 9 POINTS IN MAINE SENATE RACE: POLL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a Monday CNN interview, Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4581699\/dem-jake-auchincloss-refuses-endorse-platner-disqualifying-tattoo\/\">refused<\/a> to endorse his fellow New England Democrat over revelations that Platner previously had a tattoo of the Nazi <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3858840\/maine-senate-graham-platner-nazi-tattoo\/\">Death\u2019s Head<\/a>, the symbol of Hitler\u2019s SS, on his chest. \u201cI find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying,\u201d Auchincloss said. \u201cI hope Maine voters agree with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cook Political Report rates Platner\u2019s race against Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1302\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME), the five-term Republican incumbent, as a toss-up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> has reached out to the Platner campaign for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maine candidate Platner questioned Ottoman killings, asking if it was \u201cgenocide.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4301,"featured_media":2608407,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26144839396636_26baeb.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[80479,50410,65649,5310],"class_list":["post-2608406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-armenian-genocide","tag-controversy-2","tag-graham-platner","tag-reddit"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26144839396636_26baeb.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4301"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608406"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2608410,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608406\/revisions\/2608410"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}