Susan Collins remains ‘very strong supporter of Israel’

[](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) _[Read all of our coverage](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) of Maine's 2026 election or stay up to date with the latest developments through the [Maine Political Report](https://www.pressherald.com/mprnewsletter/) in your inbox or [text messages](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/11/maine-political-news-sent-right-to-your-phone-sign-up-for-text-alerts-from-our-editor/) from politics editor Kirby Wilson._ Republican Sen. Susan Collins told Fox News that she continues to be a strong supporter of Israel and sought to shift blame for a lack of national abortion rights to Democrats. Collins was asked on Monday by Martha MacCallum, host of “The Story,” if she was reconsidering her support of Israel amid growing opposition to the American Israel Public Action Committee, the lobbying group that supports strong ties between Israel and the United States. “No way,” Collins said in her first national interview since the June 9 primaries. Support for Israel has fallen in the U.S. following its military campaign in Gaza. And some even blame Israel for convincing President Donald Trump to start bombing Iran in February — a move that has caused gas prices and other everyday costs of living to rise. Collins’ primary opponent, Graham Platner, a 41-year-old political newcomer and combat veteran, has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians and blamed Israel for the Iran war. He’s also hammered Collins’ support for foreign wars. “I remain a very strong supporter of Israel, the one democracy in the Middle East — our true ally in the Middle East,” Collins said. “And I think this sadly reflects rising antisemitism in our country that Graham Platner certainly is part of, and has been since his high school days. That’s been a consistent theme throughout his entire life.” Advertisement Collins appeared to be referencing an op-ed that Platner and his high school classmates published in the Bangor Daily News, urging people to understand why terrorism exists. He was also pictured in his yearbook holding sign that said “Free Kosovo, Chechnya, Palestine, Kurdistan, Tibet.” Collins also noted that Platner, who had a Nazi-linked skull and crossbones tattoo for 18 years before covering it up last fall, complimented Hamas’ military tactics in an old Reddit post. (Platner said he didn’t know of the tattoo’s meaning before being asked about it by reporters, a claim that’s been disputed.) Platner’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Collins also previewed her general election message against Platner, who easily won the Democratic nomination despite criticism of his tattoo, offensive online posts and alleged past treatment of women. Platner built momentum by barnstorming the state and holding dozens of town halls by assembling a pro-labor movement with an antibillionaire message. His top policy priorities are taxing billionaires and providing universal health care. Collins said she “never expected to have an opponent like” Platner, going on to highlight elements of his past that have made national headlines. Advertisement “He’s the antithesis of the steady leadership that I provide in Washington that has delivered real results for the state of Maine and for our nation,” Collins said. After being shown clips of Mainers excusing Platner’s past statements and actions, Collins said “it surprises me” but she understands the economic hardships people are facing. She then highlighted the $1.5 billion in earmarks she’s delivered as a senior member and now chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I need to make sure that the people of Maine understand my record of independence and delivering results,” she said. “In the end, this comes down to whether you want a candidate who will go to Washington, engage in angry rhetoric every day, but not get anything done, versus my service to the people of Maine, where I have delivered real results to the people of Maine.” Collins also sought to deflect responsibility for the fall of abortion protections after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Democrats are blaming Collins, who provided a decisive vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. At the time, she said Kavanaugh assured her that Roe was settled law and that he respected precedent, only to vote to overturn it four years later. In 2020, Democrats hoped to use her Kavanaugh vote to run her out of office, but it didn’t work. This is her first campaign since the court struck down Roe in 2022. Advertisement Collins said the court would have ended abortion protections even if Kavanaugh had not been confirmed, citing a 6-3 decision. But that vote was actually in support of a Mississippi law banning abortions after 15 weeks. In a separate vote within that ruling, the court decided 5-4 that women do not have a constitutional right to abortion under Roe. Collins also blamed then Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, for not allowing a floor vote on a bipartisan bill to enact abortion protections into law. “I also joined with a bipartisan group of senators to codify Roe v. Wade and make it the law of the land,” she said. “Regrettably, the then leader of the senate, Chuck Schumer, refused to bring up our bill.” Copy the Story Link Tagged: [abortion](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/abortion/), [election 2026](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/), [Graham Platner](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/graham-platner/), [Israel](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/israel/), [senate 2026](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/senate-2026/), [Susan Collins](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/susan-collins/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/randy-billings) [Randy BillingsStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/randy-billings) Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined. [More by Randy Billings](https://www.pressherald.com/author/randy-billings)