A North Carolina Democrat’s social media post glorifying a mock beheading of President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm. Rep. Julie von Haefen, a Wake County lawmaker, shared an image from Raleigh’s No Kings protest showing a guillotine and a severed Trump head prop. The post, paired with her cheery caption, has conservatives demanding her resignation, as Just the News reports.
On Saturday, von Haefen posted a photo from the protest, captioning it with praise for the “amazing turnout” and hashtags such as “no kings.” The image depicted a protester’s sign with a bloody guillotine and the words “some cuts may be necessary,” alongside a grotesque Trump effigy. This wasn’t a subtle jab -- it was a blatant nod to violence.
The No Kings protests, including 27 in North Carolina, amplified opposition to the weekend parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary. Over 1,700 similarly titled protest events were planned nationwide, fueled by Trump’s landslide 2024 victory, sweeping all seven swing states with 93-0 electoral votes. Von Haefen’s post came on the same day that a tragic Minnesota shooting killed a lawmaker and her husband, injuring another legislator and his spouse.
The North Carolina Republican Party didn’t mince words, condemning von Haefen’s post as encouraging political violence. “This is why reasonable people are leaving the Democrat Party,” said Rep. Erin Paré, slamming the post’s timing amid the Minnesota tragedy. Von Haefen’s celebration of a beheading image looks tone-deaf at best, malicious at worst.
By Sunday morning, the Center Square sought verification from von Haefen’s office about the post’s authenticity. Minutes later, she edited the video to remove the offending image but offered no apology. Her swift edit suggests she knew the post crossed a line, yet she doubled down with defiance.
Von Haefen’s Sunday afternoon Facebook statement claimed she condemned “political violence in all forms.” “I later edited the video to remove the photo,” she said, insisting her focus is “bringing people together.” Her words ring hollow when her initial post gleefully showcased a violent fantasy.
“Let me be clear: I condemn political violence,” von Haefen added in her statement. But her Saturday caption, complete with an expletive-laden hashtag, told a different story. Condemning violence after promoting it doesn’t erase the damage -- it just exposes the hypocrisy.
Rep. Chris Humphrey didn’t buy her attempt at a backtrack, stating, “Some people hate a duly elected leader… more than they love America.” His point cuts deep: von Haefen’s post wasn’t about policy disagreement but raw, divisive hatred. Her actions fuel the very extremism she claims to oppose.
Notably, von Haefen’s X account vanished after the controversy erupted, though her campaign Facebook page remains active. A certified guardian ad litem and lawyer licensed in three states, she’s no political novice. Her calculated post and subsequent deletion suggest she’s playing damage control, not seeking accountability.
The North Carolina Democratic Party stayed mum on von Haefen’s actions. Chairwoman Anderson Clayton stated the Minnesota shooting, condemning “horrific acts” of violence, but ignored von Haefen’s post entirely. This selective outrage raises questions about the party’s priorities.
Gov. Josh Stein, House Speaker Destin Hall, and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger also kept silent by Sunday afternoon. Their lack of comment leaves von Haefen’s stunt unaddressed by top leaders. It’s a glaring omission when a sitting lawmaker endorses such imagery.
First elected in 2018 and reelected three times, von Haefen has built a career advocating for progressive causes. Yet her post aligns more with fringe extremism than the “values that matter to North Carolinians” she claims to champion. Her refusal to apologize only deepens the divide.
The No Kings protests were a direct response to Trump’s overwhelming electoral success. His victory by over 2 million votes underscored a mandate von Haefen and her allies seem unwilling to accept. Instead, they resort to grotesque displays that undermine democratic norms.
“Political violence should be condemned, not encouraged,” the North Carolina Republican Party declared. Von Haefen’s post, timed with a national wave of protests, suggests some Democrats are more interested in stoking division than fostering unity. Her actions betray the very principles she claims to uphold.
As calls for her resignation grow, von Haefen’s silence on accountability speaks volumes. Promoting a beheading image isn’t just poor judgment -- it’s a dangerous escalation in an already polarized climate. North Carolinians deserve better from their elected officials.
