President Donald Trump waded into the controversy surrounding former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner on Wednesday, casting doubt on the sexual assault allegations that ultimately forced the Democrat to abandon his campaign. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump framed the accusations as a matter of belief, suggesting the accuser might not be telling the truth.
“It’s really a question of whether or not you believe the woman. A lot of people say big falsehoods,” Trump said, adding, “He’s in a bind.” The president’s remarks came just hours before Platner announced he was suspending his campaign, following two rape allegations and the surfacing of past racist comments and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol.
Platner, in an 11-minute video posted Wednesday, vehemently denied the rape claims. “I just want to make it clear. This is all false. The things that have been claimed did not happen. It’s not real,” he said. He argued that the allegations were timed to block him from the November ballot, noting the July 13 withdrawal deadline. “It has placed an immense amount of weight on me as I think about what needs to happen now,” he added.
The candidate also accused Maine’s Democratic establishment of conspiring to keep him out of the general election, claiming they “would rather see Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) win than have me be the next senator from Maine.” His departure has deepened internal strife within the state party, as reported in Maine Democrats plagued by internal strife as Platner replacement nears deadline.
Key progressive allies quickly distanced themselves. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Maine) withdrew their endorsements. Our Revolution, the political group Sanders founded, threw its support behind former Maine state Senate President Troy Jackson to replace Platner on the ballot. Jackson expressed a desire to build on the movement Platner ignited, focusing on “Medicare for all, workers’ rights, prescription drugs, I mean trying to do something about this war,” during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press Now.”
The controversy has exposed fractures in Maine’s Democratic coalition, with grassroots activists accusing party leaders of sidelining them in the replacement process. Staffers claim Maine Dems exclude grassroots in Platner replacement, highlighting tensions between establishment figures and insurgent candidates. Platner’s campaign had been seen as a long-shot bid to unseat Collins, but the allegations and subsequent fallout have left the party scrambling to field a viable alternative.
Trump’s intervention adds a national dimension to a local race. His pattern of questioning accusers’ credibility echoes past controversies, including during his own presidential campaigns. The remarks also come as the White House juggles multiple crises, from renewed strikes on Iran to escalating trade tensions with Spain.
Platner’s withdrawal leaves Maine Democrats with limited time to unite behind a replacement. The party faces a critical test of whether it can channel the energy of insurgent movements while avoiding the internal divisions that have plagued other state parties. For now, the race remains in flux, with Collins’ reelection prospects potentially buoyed by the chaos.
