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Combat veteran nearly killed by Taliban fires back at Platner’s deleted online attack: ‘You’re a coward’

Combat veteran nearly killed by Taliban fires back at Platner’s deleted online attack: ‘You’re a coward’

Combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient Ted Daniels, who was nearly killed by the Taliban, ripped Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner over a resurfaced post in which Platner said Daniels should not have survived. Speaking to “The Bottom Line” on Thursday, Daniels called Platner a “coward” for hiding behind a keyboard. “People like this don’t say stuff like this to my face,” he said. “It’s online, and that right there tells me, Graham, you’re a coward.” In a now-deleted Reddit post from June 2019, Platner reacted to a viral helmet-cam video showing Daniels being shot four times during a 2012 clash with Taliban fighters. “This video never gets old,” Platner wrote under the username “P-Hustle,” a deleted Reddit account he has acknowledged owning. “Dumb motherf—– didn’t deserve to live. At least his stupidity and fat a– wheezing are available for all future infantrymen to witness and hold in contempt. Poor marksmanship on the Taliban’s part is the only reason this mouthbreather made it home, he managed to make every possible s— decision possible when it comes to small unit combat,” the post read. PLATNER’S DELETED REDDIT SPARKS OUTRAGE AGAIN AS HE APPEARS TO MOCK WOUNDED SOLDIER: ‘DIDN’T DESERVE TO LIVE’ The deleted post can still be found in the Maine Monitor’s database of Platner’s deleted Reddit history. Platner, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is facing mounting backlash over his past online comments, which have drawn criticism from veterans and lawmakers across the political spectrum. His resurfaced Reddit account also featured a stream of vulgar and highly unusual posts that critics say raise broader questions about Platner’s judgment. “Thank you for your service, Graham, but I think you’re a scumbag personally,” Daniels said. Other resurfaced Reddit posts included Platner describing himself as a “communist” and “socialist,” alleged homophobic slurs, and praise for Hamas military tactics. Daniels said Platner’s comments may stem from personal insecurity. “Hate never comes from above,” he said. “It always comes from below. I don’t know if Mr. Platner has an inferiority complex. I don’t know if he’s disgusted or not proud of his own service because he’s out there attacking folks who are proud of their service and have done the right things for the right reason.” TOP OFF-THE-WALL REDDIT POSTS HAUNTING GRAHAM PLATNER’S MAINE SENATE BID He said he first learned about the post while having coffee with his wife and immediately asked whether it came from a “liberal” before knowing who wrote it. After his wife confirmed it was Platner, Daniels said the comments “made sense.” “This is what they do. It’s the violent rhetoric. It’s hateful rhetoric,” he said. Daniels said Platner needed “therapy” for attacking other soldiers, including “American Sniper” and former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, whom Platner previously accused of killing civilians to inflate his numbers. “The comments that he made about me are just one thing. He attacked former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle as well. Chris Kyle’s an American hero, he’s an icon, the legend,” he said. WATCH: COLLINS RIPS MAINE CHALLENGER PLATNER OVER RESURFACED REDDIT POST MOCKING WOUNDED US SOLDIER He added that Platner’s comments reflect poorly on the military as a whole. “Everybody thinks that everybody that served in the military is a saint and can do no wrong and that’s just not the case,” he said. “Just to have somebody like this involved in our culture in the first place, it’s embarrassing for the entire military and veteran community.” Daniels said Platner is contributing to extreme political rhetoric online. “This man has cheered on Antifa. He has called for violence. He hates cops, and it’s like, this is what we’re dealing with,” he said. “From what I see, it’s all behind the keyboard.” He said Platner’s rhetoric and emotionally unstable behavior make him unfit for office. “This is coming from a man whose party has no idea what a woman is, yet he saw a video of a man online and had an emotional meltdown like a 13-year-old girl who just got dumped by her boyfriend,” Daniels said. “Honestly, that’s not the type of leadership that we need in our government.” Platner became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee after two-term Gov. Janet Mills ended her campaign last month. If he wins the June primary, Platner will face five-term incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins this fall.

Dem candidate who called for imprisoning ‘Zionists’ blames her own party, media for backlash

Dem candidate who called for imprisoning ‘Zionists’ blames her own party, media for backlash

The Democratic House candidate under fire for recommending imprisonment for “American Zionists” blamed journalists and her own party for allegedly mischaracterizing her as wanting to create a holding center for “American Zionists” and a purported castration facility. In an Instagram post last week, South Texas sex therapist Maureen Galindo proposed legislation that would repurpose a federal detention facility to imprison “American Zionists.” In other posts, she also accused her Democratic runoff challenger, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Johnny Garcia, of being paid to put “Jews and Mexicans in concentration camps via Zionist trafficking networks.” In a social media video posted Thursday, Galindo blamed journalists for mischaracterizing her comments and said she has received threats and hate mail. She also sought to set the record straight about her reference to using an ICE facility in her district. “I’m sorry to all journalists if I missed your email or social media message, it got lost in a wave of hundreds of death threats and the most vile things. I’m in Texas, I know MAGA. This is worse than MAGA, that’s because MAGA and Zionism is religious overtaking of government,” Galindo said. DEMOCRATS VOW TO VOTE ‘EVERY SINGLE DAY’ TO EXPEL FELLOW DEM FROM CONGRESS IF SHE WINS MIDTERM “I never said I wanted to use an internment camp. Literally never said it. I said I want to close all detention centers… and put billionaire American Zionists who are funding the genocidal prison systems involved in trafficking into prison.” Galindo nevertheless reiterated her support for imprisoning what she called “billionaire American Zionists,” whom she accused of supporting “genocidal prison systems.” She said the use of the phrase “internment camp” was invented by an unnamed journalist who “literally wants me dead.” Galindo then accused House Democrats’ campaign arm, the DCCC, of fueling the uproar and criticized the organization for backing Garcia over her. CROCKETT BLASTS ‘LEFT’ FOR ALLEGED SKIN DARKENING IN ADS AS TEXAS SENATE CLASH HEATS UP She then accused Garcia of being the “PR guy” for the “deadliest jail in all of Texas” and called him a “Zionist-backed cop-candidate.” Fox News Digital reached out to the DCCC and Garcia’s campaign for comment. In a video response, Garcia said Galindo’s comments have “no place in our Democratic Party or any place in public service.” While Galindo could not be immediately reached, she posted a direct response to the matter on her media page, addressing it to all journalists seeking comment on the matter. “Maureen never said that she wants anyone in internment camps.” The campaign said Galindo still wants the Karnes ICE facility to be refitted for “billionaire Zionists” who could practice Evangelism, Catholicism, Mormonism and not just Judaism. “It’s their behaviors and actions that will be judged,” the statement went on, adding that the retrofitting would also provide jobs to the region. TEXAS DEMOCRATS CALLED OUT OVER ‘EGREGIOUS CIRCULAR-FIRING SQUAD BEHAVIOR’ IN SENATE PRIMARY RACE Galindo shocked the body politic when she edged out Garcia in the original primary by a few points — putting her and the law enforcement official in the runoff. The district number matches that of incumbent “Squad” member Rep. Gregorio Casar of Austin, but Casar is running in adjacent Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s district, which also overlaps with his current seat, after Doggett said he would retire if the GOP’s new map holds up in court. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene of Oregon hit back at the situation by blaming Republicans for “propping up” the “antisemitic” Galindo. Jewish Democrats, including Reps. Jared Moskowitz of Florida and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, also condemned Galindo. Even some on the far left condemned Galindo, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who called her comments “disgusting.”

As China tensions loom, US temporarily pauses Taiwan weapons sales due to Iran war, acting Navy secretary says

As China tensions loom, US temporarily pauses Taiwan weapons sales due to Iran war, acting Navy secretary says

The United States has temporarily paused weapons sales to Taiwan in order to ensure readiness for a potential escalation in Iran, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao testified to the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee on Tuesday. “I have not heard, I have not spoken to the Taiwanese. However, we have done some military, foreign military sales to them. And it’s just, right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury, which we have plenty, but we’re just making sure we have everything,” Cao testified. When asked by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., if sales would be resumed at any point, Cao replied, “That would be up to the secretary of war and the secretary of state, sir.” “Well, that’s really distressing,” McConnell responded. TRUMP RALLIES DEFENSE TITANS TO SURGE WEAPONS OUTPUT AS IRAN WAR RAGES Cao did also add that “the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.” His testimony came a week after President Donald Trump’s state visit to China, where Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of Taiwan as a red-line issue. “President Xi stressed to President Trump that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-U.S. relations. If it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a statement after Trump and Xi’s bilateral meeting. BEHIND SUMMIT SMILES, XI GIVES BLUNT WARNING TO TRUMP OF ‘CLASHES’ AND ‘CONFLICTS’ Congress pre-approved a $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan in January, though Trump has yet to formally notify the package, a key step in approving the delivery to Taiwan. Though a bipartisan group of lawmakers urged him to do so before his China visit, Trump withheld his stamp of approval, leaving the armament deal in limbo. During an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier from China, Trump urged both Taiwan and China to “cool down” and remained ambivalent on the likelihood he’d sign off on the weapons bundle. “I may do it. I may not do it,” he told Baier. “We’re not looking to have wars. If you kept it the way it is, I think China is [going to] be OK with that. But we’re not looking to have somebody say, ‘Let’s go independent because the United States is backing us.’” CHINA PROMISES ‘COUNTERMEASURES’ TO US ARMS SALE TO TAIWAN Beijing has long viewed Taiwan as a “breakaway province” and lays claim to the island as belonging to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The U.S., in concert with President Ronald Reagan’s “six assurances” to Taiwan, has historically been the island nation’s chief weapons supplier, a trend that many Washington lawmakers wish to see continued. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., asserted as much during Tuesday’s subcommittee hearing, insisting that weaponizing Taiwan provides the U.S. strategic leverage in ongoing security competition with China. “I’m sorry, what more do we have to know?” he asked Adm. Daryl Caudle, the Navy’s chief of operations. US COULD BURN THROUGH KEY MISSILES IN ‘A WEEK’ IF WAR WITH CHINA ERUPTS, TOP SECURITY EXPERT WARNS “President Xi has telegraphed his anxiety, his insecurity now that he knows that America’s re-learned how to fight. We want leverage. We want stability, not a hot war. We want leverage. What’s his insecurity? Taiwan. Why don’t we just go ahead and sell the weapons to Taiwan that Taiwan wants? The president can call President Xi and say, hey, President Xi, don’t take it personally. Don’t get excited, don’t get your bows in an uproar. But I’m selling these weapons. Why wouldn’t we do that?” “We definitely want Taiwan to be as strong as they can be,” Caudle replied. “They’d be stronger with those weapons are, wouldn’t they?” Kennedy asked. “Yes, sir,” Caudle replied. WATCH: KENNEDY PRESSES NAVY ADMIRAL ON WEAPONS SALES TO TAIWAN: Taiwan, meanwhile, said they haven’t received any notification from the U.S. about the pause. “Currently there is no information regarding any adjustments the U.S. will make to this arms sale,” Taiwanese presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo said Friday, according to The Associated Press. “As President Trump said, he will make a determination in a fairly short time regarding a new Taiwan arms package,” a White House official told Fox News Digital. “The President approved $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan in December 2025, consistent with U.S. policy since the 1950s. In his first term, President Trump approved more arms sales to Taiwan than any other President in history. In his second term, President Trump approved more in his first year than all four years under President Biden,” the official said.  Fox News Digital contacted the Department of War, the State Department, the U.S. Navy and a representative for the Taiwanese government for comment.

Trump doubles down on $1.8 billion ‘slush fund’ that killed his agenda, spurred Republican rebellion

Trump doubles down on .8 billion ‘slush fund’ that killed his agenda, spurred Republican rebellion

President Donald Trump isn’t backing down from his administration’s latest move that has blown up his agenda in Congress.  Trump on Friday stood by the newly created “anti-weaponization” fund that some Republicans have described as a slush fund launched by the Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier this week. He argued that what could have been a massive payday for himself was converted into “justice” for others.  “I gave up a lot of money in allowing the just announced Anti-Weaponization Fund to go forward,” Trump said on Truth Social. “I could have settled my case, including the illegal release of my Tax Returns and the equally illegal BREAK IN of Mar-a-Lago, for an absolute fortune.”  SENATE GOP ERUPTS OVER TRUMP DOJ ‘ANTI-WEAPONIZATION’ FUND, PUNTS ICE, BORDER PATROL FUNDING “Instead, I am helping others who were so badly abused by an evil, corrupt, and weaponized Biden Administration, receive, at long last, JUSTICE! President DJT,” he continued. The fund stemmed from an agreement among Trump, his family and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to settle his $10 billion lawsuit against the government over the leak of their tax returns.  The nearly $1.8 billion fund would “provide a systematic process to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare,” according to the DOJ.  But its creation foiled his agenda in Congress to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol throughout his term. Republicans contended that the timing could have waited. REPUBLICANS RECOIL AS TRUMP’S BILLION-DOLLAR DOJ ‘SLUSH FUND’ FOR ALLIES THREATENS ICE, BORDER PATROL PLAN “Well, it would have been nice if they had consulted, and I think they probably would have gotten plenty of advice from lots of folks about it, but it’s water under the bridge now,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said.  “And you play the hand you’re dealt, and we’ll sort it out from here, but obviously it became a more complicated and bumpy path than we hoped,” he continued.  That’s because the majority of Senate Republicans on Thursday took issue with a lack of clear guardrails on whether those convicted of assaulting police officers during the riots on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021, could make a claim and get a taxpayer-funded payout. The announcement of the settlement and subsequent creation of the fund earlier this week derailed what was meant to be the last sprint to pass the massive, $72 billion package. The goal was to have the legislation on Trump’s desk by June 1.  SENATE REPUBLICAN THREATENS TO DERAIL ICE, BORDER PATROL PACKAGE OVER TRUMP’S BILLION-DOLLAR REQUEST But Republicans, facing severe political headwinds, weren’t satisfied with the explanations of how the fund would work and what guardrails could be installed.  And despite the administration’s argument that the fund has nothing to do with the reconciliation process, it is inextricably tied to the maneuver because the Senate Judiciary Committee oversees the DOJ and has played a major role in crafting the broader package. The Senate doesn’t return until Trump’s deadline, and the likelihood that lawmakers solve the issue and finish their work is low.  Meanwhile, Senate Democrats cheered the result. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused Republicans of “fleeing” from Washington, D.C., on Thursday, and charged that “they’re at each other’s throats.” “Trapped in a corner by their own president, Republicans have their backs to the wall with no way out. Nowhere to hide. No end in sight,” Schumer said. “The only way for Republicans to get out of this box is to stop backing the slush fund. Stop pushing the ballroom.”