‘VILE, DISGUSTING’: Purple Heart recipient blasts Dem Senate candidate over deleted Reddit posts mocking wounded soldier

A Purple Heart recipient has sharply condemned Maine Senate candidate Graham Plattner over recently exposed Reddit comments, calling the posts “vile” and “disgusting” while accusing the Democratic candidate of mocking a wounded soldier.

Teddy Daniels, who earned the Purple Heart for combat injuries sustained in Afghanistan, appeared on a national program to respond to Plattner’s deleted Reddit history. Plattner, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, has faced bipartisan criticism after screenshots showed him belittling a wounded service member.

“It is abhorrent. It truly is,” Daniels said. “Vile, disgusting.”

Daniels further noted that Plattner also attacked the memory of Chris Kyle, the late Navy SEAL and American sniper whose life story inspired the film American Sniper. Kyle was murdered in 2013.

“This man went after Chris Kyle as well — a man who is an American hero and American icon, unfortunately not here to defend himself from this deranged person,” Daniels said.

The host noted that Democrats have largely tried to avoid questions about Plattner’s online conduct, asking Daniels why he believed political figures were refusing to comment.

“If I were a politician, I would be running away from this too,” Daniels replied. “This man represents a party who doesn’t know what a woman is. He was online one day, definitely saw what a man was, got triggered, had a meltdown frothing at the mouth and had to put stuff on social media. That’s the emotional immaturity of those on the left.”

When asked whether he was offended by Plattner’s remarks, Daniels said, “I’m not offended,” adding that he viewed the posts as a reflection of broader political immaturity.

The conversation then turned to Daniels’ Purple Heart itself — which now sits on former President Donald Trump’s desk. Daniels explained that a gubernatorial candidate friend was meeting with Trump, so Daniels gave his Purple Heart to that friend to hand-deliver. Trump later reached out directly.

“The president then reached out to me afterwards. He had seen the video, familiar with what I went through downrange,” Daniels said. “Let me tell you, I met with the man — you see on TV is what you get in person with him.”

Daniels also credited Trump’s Veterans Affairs policies with saving his leg from amputation.

“Thanks to his policies he helped an act. The VA, his policies with the VA prevented that happening,” Daniels said. “I was able to go outside and keep my leg. I appreciate everything the man has done for this country.”

The host, who noted his own son served 20 years as a Marine and deployed to combat, thanked Daniels for his service and called him a hero.

“You are heroic and you deserve that Purple Heart,” the host said. “I appreciate you standing up for him even if you didn’t have to.”

Plattner has deleted the posts in question, though critics argue that online statements cannot be fully retracted. The Democratic Party has not issued a formal response to Daniels’ remarks.