A Democrat lawmaker in North Carolina is facing blowback over a photo she posted to social media depicting a beheaded President Donald Trump.
State Rep. Julie von Haefen published a video over the weekend showing a number of images from a “No Kings” protest in Raleigh, including one of a woman holding up a sign with a guillotine and a message that read, “In these difficult times some cuts may be necessary.” On one end hung what appeared to be Trump’s head with a powdered wig. A man’s head with a swastika emblazoned on the forehead hung from the other side.
Wow this is sick. North Carolina State Rep Julie von Haefen (D) posted a photo from the “no kings” protest which calls for Trump to be beheaded‼️ @FBI pic.twitter.com/ETn7O6e8cu
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 15, 2025
The Libs of TikTok account on X shared a screen grab of the violent image, calling it “sick” and tagging the FBI. Von Haefen deleted her X account and Libs of TikTok noted the lawmaker reposted her video on Facebook, but edited to remove the execution-themed photo.
Von Haefen later released a statement.
“Yesterday, I posted a video on social media containing crowd photos from the No Kings protest in Raleigh. One of the images of a protestor holding a sign was inappropriate, and I later edited the video to remove the photo,” she said on Facebook.
Von Haefen also made reference to the shootings in Minnesota in which House Democrat leader Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed and another lawmaker and his wife were injured. A suspect, Vance Boelter, has been apprehended by authorities and could face the death penalty if convicted on murder charges.
“Let me be clear: I condemn political violence in all forms,” von Haefen claimed. “My focus remains on bringing people together and fighting for the values that matter to North Carolinians. Like so many, I was horrified by the violence in Minnesota. There is no place for that kind of extremism in our democracy, no matter the target, no matter the party.”
Still, a number of Republican lawmakers expressed their disgust with von Haefen.
“Political violence is not okay — the Left should stop encouraging it,” said Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC).
North Carolina’s Speaker of the House Destin Hall said in a statement that he was “examining next steps with our legislative attorneys to ensure this behavior does not continue” in response to von Haefen’s actions.
“On the same weekend that a gunman in Minnesota targeted state lawmakers in an act of political violence, and after two attempted assassinations of President Trump within the past year, Representative von Haefen (D-Wake) shared an image of a ‘protest sign’ that glorifies violence against her political opponents- including President Donald Trump,” Hall said. “Her disgraceful behavior fails to meet the standards expected from House members and sets a dangerous precedent in an already volatile political climate.”
The North Carolina GOP called for von Haefen to resign.
Back in 2017, comedian Kathy Griffin posed for a photo while she held a mock severed Trump head, a move that led to a firestorm of criticism.
