BANGOR –– Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins has condemned social media posts reportedly made by Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner in 2020 and 2021.

Platner reportedly deleted the Reddit posts in which he reportedly disparaged police, referred to himself as a communist, and stated that being armed with a semiautomatic weapon was necessary to fight fascism. 

The posts, including one where he stated older, white rural Americans were racist and stupid, were first reported by CNN.

During a gaggle with reporters Friday, Collins said she found the alleged posts offensive. 

“I was appalled when I read those comments,” said Collins. “First of all, as someone who comes from rural Maine, for him to have described white people living in rural Maine as racist and stupid… just the opposite is the case.” 

“I thought that those comments were terrible, as were his comments about denigrating our police. I think they were offensive,” she added.

Platner told the Portland Press Herald on Thursday that much of what he posted were, quote, “stupid joke comments” that he did not necessarily believe and were made at a time when he felt lonely and isolated.

“These were not comments that he made when he was in high school.” Collins said Friday. “These are comments that he has made quite recently. I think they were terrible.”

Platner, a Marine Corps veteran and oyster farmer, is a progressive who became a front-runner shortly after announcing his candidacy.

Platner is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Collins in 2026.