Former President Joe Biden\u2019s chief of staff, Ron Klain, is facing fierce pushback online after jumping into the growing controversy surrounding Maine Senate Democratic nominee Graham Platner\u2019s Nazi-linked tattoo, attempting to defend and explain away the Democrat\u2019s disputed ink.
\n\u201cThe fact that a Biden WH Chief of Staff Democrat is comfortable downplaying a Nazi tattoo from a different Democrat tells you everything you need to know about today\u2019s Democrats,\u201d posted Prager University contributor Shabbos Kestenbaum.
\nKlain sparked a fight with the Republican Jewish Coalition Wednesday when he defended Platner on the group\u2019s Instagram post condemning the candidate and calling on Democrats to withdraw their support. Platner has denied the tattoo was intended as a Nazi symbol, even as multiple people familiar with the candidate have identified it as an SS skull-and-crossbones design, which he has since covered.
\n\u201cThis is just a partisan attack,\u201d Klain wrote. \u201cThe tattoo was a skull and crossbones to remember his fallen comrades from his service in Afghanistan.\u201d
\nGRAHAM PLATNER BLAMES NAZI TATTOO ON MILITARY \u2018CULTURE,\u2019 DRAWS BACKLASH FROM GOP VETERANS<\/p>\n
Klain served as Biden\u2019s chief of staff from 2021 to 2023, before becoming Airbnb\u2019s chief legal officer. He was appointed to serve on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council by Biden in January 2025 before President Donald Trump removed him nearly four months later.
\nThe United States Holocaust Memorial Council is the presidentially appointed board that oversees the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
\nThe exchange ignited a firestorm on social media, where critics argued Klain\u2019s defense reflected a broader unwillingness among Democrats to distance themselves from Platner amid the growing controversy.
\n\u201cHere\u2019s former Biden WH Chief of Staff, and @Airbnb Chief Legal Officer, Ron Klain whitewashing Graham Platner\u2019s Nazi SS Totenkopf tattoo. This, after hosting a fundraiser for Platner last week. As a former United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Council @HolocaustMuseum member, Klain absolutely knows better,\u201d RJC posted to X of the exchange.\u00a0
\nWATCH: DEM SENATORS EXCUSE PLATNER\u2019S CONDUCT AT CRISIS HUDDLE WITH EMBATTLED MAINE CANDIDATE<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a disgusting lie from Ron Klain and @Airbnb should be deeply concerned someone this dishonest is working for the company in a sensitive role,\u201d posted Hudson Institute adjunct fellow Josh Block.
\n\u201cWhat has become of us when prominent Jews defend Nazi sympathizers? I am disgusted. Ex-Biden chief Ron Klain defends Graham Platner\u2019s Nazi tattoo,\u201d wrote former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
\n\u201cIt was NOT to honor his fallen comrades, which is wildly manipulative lie,\u201d wrote Republican communicator Matt Whitlock on X.
\nSENATE CANDIDATE GRAHAM PLATNER SENT EXPLICIT TEXTS TO MULTIPLE WOMEN WHILE MARRIED, WIFE SAYS: REPORT<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do not have to debase yourself for Platner. Pick your values over partisanship. Focus on other elections. This man is not worth your self-respect,\u201d wrote columnist Alex Zeldin.
\n\u201cWorse: The highest-ranking elected Jewish official in the U.S., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, still endorses Platner and has refused to revoke his support,\u201d wrote Antisemitism Watch founder Trish Posner.
\nSeveral of Platner\u2019s ex-girlfriends have alleged the embattled nominee referred to his tattoo as \u201cmy Totenkopf\u201d because of his belief that his unit shared similarities to the Nazi SS paramilitary forces.
\nDuring his victory speech Tuesday, Platner acknowledged the controversy that has followed him while on the campaign trail.
\n\u201cRedemption is not just some simple or easy destination. It\u2019s a journey. I\u2019ve made mistakes in my life, mistakes that I regret, that I live with, that I continue to learn from and I\u2019m still far from perfect,\u201d said Platner. \u201cBut every day I wake up and I try to be a little bit better and a little bit kinder than I was the day before and if you give me the chance, I will be a senator for the people who cannot afford to buy a senator.\u201d
\nA string of controversies have followed Platner as he eyes to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
\nIn the heat of the primary race, Reddit posts surfaced detailing his past inflammatory comments, while he was also accused of physical misconduct, including aggressive behavior, with a former romantic partner. Platner denied those accusations.
\nFox News Digital reached out to Ron Klain, Airbnb and Graham Platner for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"