Democratic State Rep. Julie von Haefen has found herself in hot water after sharing a shocking social media post depicting the beheading of former President Trump. The post, which featured a guillotine alongside the caption “some cuts may be necessary,” drew immediate backlash from both the public and her fellow lawmakers in North Carolina.
On June 14, 2025, von Haefen posted the incendiary image during a “No Kings Protest” event in Raleigh, which she characterized as a demonstration highlighting the importance of public engagement and political activism. However, her decision to include a violent illustration in a post quickly attracted widespread condemnation.
In response to the uproar, von Haefen deleted the post and deactivated her X account, only to resurface days later with a public apology. In an emotional address to the North Carolina House on June 17, she stated, “This weekend, I shared a video montage on Facebook that included an image that was inappropriate. I realized that quickly and took the post down, and I want to apologize today.” Her apology continued, saying, “I apologize to members of the House, to my constituents, and to any North Carolinian who is offended by what I posted. I’m sorry. Every one of us needs to take accountability for when we make mistakes.”
Despite her efforts to express remorse, the backlash kept growing. Critics on social media accused her of hypocrisy for condemning political violence while simultaneously promoting an image that incites it. Accounts such as Libs of TikTok called out von Haefen, declaring, “Not buying any of this. She knew exactly what she was doing. She’s just sorry she got caught.”
Republican lawmakers did not hold back in their criticism. Rep. Brenden Jones remarked, “Deleting your public profile isn’t accountability – it’s hiding. North Carolinians deserve better.” He highlighted a lack of condemnation from members of her own party, questioning whether they would publicly denounce her actions.
The North Carolina GOP echoed this sentiment, with Chairman Jason Simmons stating, “The posts Rep. von Haefen shared do not show the judgment or temperament of someone to hold public office. For the good of her constituents to have effective representation, she should resign.”
Rep. Tricia Cotham went even further, labeling von Haefen’s actions as “DESPICABLE,” stating that such a post does more than offend; it threatens democracy and encourages political violence.
The events surrounding von Haefen emphasize the potential consequences of politicized rhetoric in a polarized environment. What began as an expression of political dissent morphed into a significant political controversy, forcing her to confront not only the backlash from both sides of the aisle but also the implications of her words.
As the public continues to grapple with discussions of accountability and political discourse, von Haefen’s situation serves as a case study of how quickly controversies can spiral out of control and the importance of thoughtful expression in public service.
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