Taya Kyle Condemns Comments by Senate Candidate

Taya Kyle, the widow of U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, recently criticized Graham Platner, a candidate for the Maine Senate, for his comments about her late husband. On ‘The Sunday Briefing,’ she described Platner’s remarks as ‘cowardly’ and accused him of using a ‘cheap political trick’ that harms Gold Star families.

Platner, a progressive Democrat aiming to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins, alleged that Chris Kyle inflated his kill numbers by shooting civilians. Taya Kyle argued that this type of commentary is a desperate move for attention, branding it as ‘lowbrow’ and misleading. She indicated that associating Platner’s name with a beloved figure like Chris Kyle is an attempt to gain notoriety, which she said demonstrates a lack of leadership character.

For me, he would be out of the running immediately,

said Kyle.

Platner’s comments originated on the ‘Green Beret Chronicle Show,’ a military affairs podcast. He claimed his assertions mirrored behaviors observed in certain locations. Platner suggested that achieving high numbers might have involved less discriminating judgment.

Recently, Platner has also faced criticism for a resurfaced Reddit post where he disparaged a wounded soldier. He reportedly mocked the soldier, calling him undeserving of survival. These statements sparked reactions, including from Robert O’Neill, the Navy SEAL renowned for eliminating Osama bin Laden. O’Neill rebuked Platner’s remarks as inappropriate.

Platner, a Marine Corps veteran, has discussed his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to explain past contentious social media posts since his campaign began. Yet, O’Neill countered Platner’s defense, suggesting that PTSD does not justify what he termed ‘vile hatred.’