SouthernWorldwide.com – Ron Klain, former Chief of Staff to President Joe Biden, is currently facing significant online criticism for his defense of a Nazi-linked tattoo worn by Maine Senate Democratic nominee, Graham Platner. Klain’s attempt to explain and downplay the controversial ink has drawn sharp rebukes from various figures.
Shabbos Kestenbaum, a contributor to Prager University, voiced his disapproval on social media, stating that a Biden White House Chief of Staff’s comfort in minimizing a Nazi tattoo from another Democrat speaks volumes about the current state of the Democratic party.
The controversy escalated when Klain engaged with the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) on Wednesday. The RJC had posted on Instagram, condemning Platner and urging Democrats to withdraw their support. Platner himself has denied any Nazi intent behind the tattoo, despite multiple sources identifying it as an SS skull-and-crossbones design, which he has since covered.
In response to the RJC’s post, Klain wrote, “This is just a partisan attack. The tattoo was a skull and crossbones to remember his fallen comrades from his service in Afghanistan.”
Klain, who served as Biden’s chief of staff from 2021 to 2023, later became Airbnb’s chief legal officer. Notably, he was appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council by Biden in January 2025, though he was removed by President Donald Trump approximately four months later. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council is the presidential board overseeing the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
The exchange between Klain and the RJC ignited a firestorm on social media. Critics argued that Klain’s defense highlighted a perceived reluctance among Democrats to distance themselves from Platner amidst the escalating controversy.
The RJC itself posted on X, formerly Twitter, criticizing Klain’s actions. They stated, “Here’s former Biden WH Chief of Staff, and @Airbnb Chief Legal Officer, Ron Klain whitewashing Graham Platner’s 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.”
Josh Block, an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute, expressed his strong disapproval, calling Klain’s statement a “disgusting lie.” Block also suggested that Airbnb should be concerned about having such a dishonest individual in a sensitive role within the company.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, also weighed in, expressing his disgust. He questioned the state of affairs when prominent Jewish individuals defend those perceived as Nazi sympathizers and specifically called out Klain’s defense of Platner’s tattoo.
Republican communicator Matt Whitlock took to X to refute Klain’s explanation, stating emphatically, “It was NOT to honor his fallen comrades, which is wildly manipulative lie.”
Columnist Alex Zeldin advised against compromising values for political expediency, urging individuals not to debase themselves for Platner. He suggested focusing on other elections and emphasized that Platner is not worth sacrificing self-respect.
Trish Posner, founder of Antisemitism Watch, highlighted that even the highest-ranking elected Jewish official in the U.S., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, has continued to endorse Platner and refused to revoke his support.
Adding to the controversy, several of Platner’s former girlfriends have alleged that the embattled nominee referred to his tattoo as “my Totenkopf” due to his belief that his military unit shared similarities with the Nazi SS paramilitary forces. These allegations have further fueled the backlash.
During his victory speech on Tuesday, Platner addressed the controversies that have shadowed his campaign. He spoke about redemption being a journey and acknowledged making mistakes in his life that he regrets and continues to learn from. He expressed his ongoing effort to improve daily and pledged to be a senator for those who cannot afford to influence political decisions.
A series of controversies have indeed plagued Platner’s campaign as he seeks to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins. Earlier in the primary race, Reddit posts surfaced detailing inflammatory comments he had made in the past. Additionally, he faced accusations of physical misconduct and aggressive behavior from a former romantic partner, allegations that Platner has denied.
