Kat Timpf: Planter’s scandals are ‘uniquely bizarre’
Jesse Watters and The Five panel discuss Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner’s string of scandals, including an ex-girlfriend’s claims that his Nazi tattoo represents ‘the US was the evil bad guy.’ The hosts also weigh in on Platner’s policies supporting universal healthcare and gender-affirming care, arguing his political positions are overlooked amidst personal controversies. The panel questions the media’s focus and the public’s tolerance for such candidates.
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Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner was widely mocked by conservatives on social media over a post lamenting Space X and Tesla CEO Elon Musk being labeled the world’s first trillionaire.
“Elon Musk just became the world’s first trillionaire,” Platner posted on X on Friday.
“Let’s make sure he’s also the last.”
Platner’s post, which was seen over 2 million times as of Friday evening, was referring to news that Musk’s SpaceX began trading at $150 a share on Friday, above its listing price of $135 a share, making him the world’s first-ever trillionaire following the initial public offering.
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Online reactions poured in following Graham Platner’s criticism of Elon Musk’s trillionaire status. (Sophie Park/Bloomberg via Getty Images ; Johannes Neudecker/picture alliance via Getty Images)
The post received heavy criticism from conservatives on social media, with many bringing up the various controversies surrounding Platner’s campaign, including reports of infidelity, a Nazi tattoo, physical abuse of an ex-girlfriend and social media posts criticizing the military and rural America.
“Communists can never quite grasp that if you make Musk poorer, you make millions of others poorer in the process because unlike them, he actually creates value for others in society,” Red State writer Bonchie posted on X. “It’s deranged.”
“”Pick your fighter,” Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee posted on X. “Guy who innovates constantly, has built phenomenally successful businesses, and now reaps the rewards.
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Graham Platner addresses the crowd at his watch party after winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate at a YMCA in Blue Hill, Maine, on June 9, 2026. Platner will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the election for the seat. (Matthew Symons for Fox News Digital)
Guy who thought it wise to permanently stain his chest with a Nazi SS Totenkopf tattoo.”
“Worth reminding everyone that in addition to being a pathological liar Graham Platner also has the economic views of third world resentment socialists,” Charlie Kirk show producer Blake Neff posted on X.
“This is loserthink,” California Post opinion editor Joel Pollak posted on X. “Musk’s IPO is making millions of Americans wealthier. And his success is inspiring others: ‘If it can happen for an immigrant kid — why not me?’ The winning way to think — the AMERICAN way to think — is: Let’s make some more trillionaires! “
“I hope @elonmusk is the first of many trillionaires,” Actor Dean Cain posted on X. ” Pray for others to have his success and continue to change the world for the better, for EVERYONE!!”
Fox News Digital reached out to Platner’s campaign for comment.
Platner has faced widespread criticism since launching his campaign for overplaying his blue collar record and embracing the economic policies of progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who has emphatically endorsed him.
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Elon Musk arrived at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building on April 28, 2026, in Oakland, California, as opening statements began in his lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman. (Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)
Musk’s rocket and satellite company raised a record $75 billion, valuing the company at about $1.8 trillion, pushing the value of Musk’s stake in SpaceX to an estimated $690 billion. The company is trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker “SPCX” after pricing its IPO on Thursday.
Combined with his holdings in electric vehicle maker Tesla, as well as other investments and assets, Musk’s net worth is now estimated at about $1.1 trillion.
SpaceX stock jumped after it began trading, rising to $168.75 a share before paring some of those gains to trade around $158 a share. It subsequently rebounded and reached a new high of $176.52, and closed at $160.95 per share.
Investor demand for SpaceX has been intense. Reuters reported this week that the company attracted more than $250 billion in orders, while Bloomberg News reported Thursday that retail investors alone submitted more than $70 billion in requests for shares.
The company is expected to allocate at least 20% of the offering to retail investors, according to Bloomberg — an unusually large portion for individual investors in a deal of this size.
Fox News Digital’s Eric Revell and Bradford Betz contributed to this report
