Graham Platner, a progressive Senate candidate from Maine, is facing scrutiny over a now-deleted 2016 Reddit comment in which he questioned whether the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire constituted genocide. The comment was highlighted by the Washington Free Beacon and has drawn attention to Platner's social media history, including other controversial remarks. In the 2016 post, Platner noted that Turkey acknowledges the occurrence of the events but debated whether they should be classified as genocide or wartime mass killings. He stated, 'I’m no fan of Turkey, but it’s important to get the facts straight.'
Turkey's official stance, as outlined by its Foreign Ministry, contests the characterization of the events as genocide, arguing that the narrative is one-sided and exaggerates the number of deaths. Turkish historian Taner Akçam has countered this by asserting that Ottoman archives indicate genocidal intent. Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, suggested that Platner should clarify his views on the Armenian genocide, especially considering the Armenian community in Maine.
Platner has also made statements regarding other geopolitical issues, including a recent tweet about the situation in Gaza. Additionally, Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss has declined to endorse Platner due to revelations about a Nazi-themed tattoo he previously had. The Cook Political Report currently rates Platner's race against incumbent Senator Susan Collins as a toss-up. The Washington Examiner has sought comment from Platner's campaign.