Platner's 'deranged' response to Musk becoming a trillionaire sparks online outrage: 'Loserthink'

Maine Senate Candidate Platner Posts Criticism of Elon Musk Reaching Trillionaire Status

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner posted on X on June 12, 2026, that Elon Musk had become the world’s first trillionaire and added, “Let’s make sure he’s also the last.” The post, which referred to the initial public offering of Musk’s rocket and satellite company SpaceX, had been viewed more than 2 million times by Friday evening.

SpaceX shares began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker “SPCX” after pricing at $135 per share on Thursday. The stock opened at $150 per share on Friday, a level that contributed to estimates placing Musk’s net worth above $1 trillion when combined with his Tesla holdings and other assets. SpaceX raised a record $75 billion in the offering, giving the company an approximate valuation of $1.8 trillion and valuing Musk’s stake at roughly $690 billion. The shares later traded as high as $176.52 before closing at $160.95.

Investor interest in the offering was substantial. Reuters reported orders exceeding $250 billion, while Bloomberg News indicated that retail investors submitted more than $70 billion in share requests. The company allocated at least 20 percent of the shares to individual investors, a larger retail portion than is typical for offerings of this scale.

Platner is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Susan Collins. He won his party’s primary on June 9, 2026, and has received an endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Platner has described his background as blue-collar and has supported policies including universal healthcare and gender-affirming care.

The candidate’s post drew responses on X from several public figures. Red State writer Bonchie wrote that reducing Musk’s wealth would also reduce wealth for others because Musk creates value through business activities. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, contrasted Musk’s record of building companies with Platner’s decision to obtain a tattoo described in reports as a Nazi SS Totenkopf symbol. Blake Neff, a producer for the Charlie Kirk show, characterized Platner’s economic views as resembling those of “third world resentment socialists.” California Post opinion editor Joel Pollak stated that Musk’s IPO had increased wealth for millions of Americans and that the appropriate response was to encourage additional high levels of success. Actor Dean Cain posted that he hoped Musk would be the first of many trillionaires.

Fox News Digital contacted Platner’s campaign for comment on the post and did not receive an immediate response.

Separate from the June 12 post, Platner’s campaign has been the subject of multiple reports concerning personal conduct. These include claims by an ex-girlfriend regarding a tattoo on his chest and allegations of physical abuse and infidelity. Additional reports have cited older social media posts in which Platner criticized aspects of the military and rural communities. The timing and disputed nature of several allegations have been noted in coverage of the Senate race. Platner has described some of the reports as politically motivated.

Musk appeared in federal court in Oakland, California, on April 28, 2026, in connection with a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman. His companies continue to operate in multiple sectors, including electric vehicles, space transportation, and satellite communications.

The Maine Senate contest is scheduled for November 2026. Collins, first elected in 1996, is seeking another term. Platner’s primary victory occurred after a campaign that emphasized economic positions aligned with progressive priorities.

Additional reporting for this article was contributed by Eric Revell and Bradford Betz.