Taya Kyle Responds to Graham Platner’s Comments

Taya Kyle Condemns Graham Platner’s Remarks

Taya Kyle, the widow of U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, voiced strong criticism against Graham Platner, a Maine Senate candidate. During her discussion on ‘The Sunday Briefing,’ she addressed Memorial Day and expressed disappointment over Platner’s recent statements. Kyle described Platner’s remarks as ‘cowardly’ and a ‘cheap political trick’ that impact Gold Star families negatively. She highlighted the sacrifices of military members and advocated for supporting military marriages.

In a direct response to Platner’s comments, Taya Kyle criticized the candidate, a progressive Democrat, for claiming that her late husband exaggerated his kill numbers by targeting innocent civilians. “Nothing says, I want attention more than disparaging a national hero who’s also dead…” Kyle stated on the show.

She went further to accuse Platner of attempting to gain attention by aligning himself with someone who is admired widely, characterizing his behavior as indicative of poor leadership. “That’s working for him to get that notoriety, but to me, it shows a total inability to lead with character. For me, he would be out of the running immediately,” she added.

Background on Graham Platner’s Controversies

Graham Platner has faced criticism not only from Kyle but also from various quarters due to past statements. His comments originated from an appearance on the ‘Green Beret Chronicle Show,’ a podcast focused on military affairs. During the episode, Platner suggested that Chris Kyle’s reported actions were consistent with a lack of discrimination in combat.

“His stories about how many people he was shooting certainly tracked with the behavior I witnessed,” Platner stated.

This isn’t the only backlash Platner has faced. He came under scrutiny after a deleted Reddit post surfaced, where he derided a soldier wounded by the Taliban. Robert O’Neill, a U.S. Navy SEAL known for killing Osama bin Laden, also criticized Platner, calling his comments “way out of line.”

Platner’s Defence and Further Reactions

Platner, a Marine Corps veteran, has linked his controversial social media activity to his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While acknowledging his condition, he used it to explain the incendiary nature of his online posts. However, this justification was not accepted by everyone. Robert O’Neill dismissed the PTSD excuse, citing it as insufficient reason for Platner’s expressions of hatred.