When Democratic State Representative Julie von Haefen of North Carolina posted a “No Kings” protest photo on social media showing Trump being beheaded by guillotine, it provoked outrage. After receiving harsh criticism from state Republican leadership and concerned citizens for the unsettling post—which coincided with recent attempts at political assassination—she deleted all of her social media accounts. Republicans are now thinking of taking the Democrat to court for her divisive remarks.
Democrats’ Violent Imagery Shocks Voters
The controversial post appeared shortly after real-world political violence targeted lawmakers in Minnesota, a timing that many found particularly alarming. Von Haefen initially shared video content featuring “No Kings” protests that included mock guillotines with Trump-like figures, imagery that directly evokes political execution.
NC Rep. Julie von Haefen is a low-life political hack that got caught with her true feelings & disgusting desire for political violence out in the open. She should resign! It is imperative @NCLeg take action to reprimand her via censure if not more. #ResignJulieVonHaefen #ncpol pic.twitter.com/v53BODt577
— Clay McCreary (@ClayMcCreary) June 16, 2025
Republican North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall immediately condemned the Democrat’s post, connecting it to the broader pattern of left-wing violence against conservatives. Von Haefen’s decision to later edit the video by removing the offensive guillotine imagery appeared to many as an admission of wrongdoing rather than a genuine apology.
Possible Legal Consequences for Digital Scrubbing
By completely deactivating her social media accounts, the Democrat may have violated North Carolina’s records retention laws for elected officials. The hasty deletion raises questions about transparency and accountability among public servants who use social media for official communications.
BREAKING UPDATE: Rep Julie von Haefen breaks her silence— issues statement after sharing a photo calling for the beheading of President Trump.
Not buying any of this. She knew exactly what she was doing. She’s just sorry she got caught.
Julie needs to face accountability and… https://t.co/h92ZTyHMbw pic.twitter.com/FM8k69TiTO
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 15, 2025
The “No Kings” movement, despite media attempts to portray it as significant, reportedly saw low attendance at their anti-Trump demonstrations. This disconnect between the movement’s actual support and the Democrats’ eagerness to share their violent imagery reflects growing concerns about extremist rhetoric infiltrating mainstream Democratic politics.
Dangerous Pattern of Political Violence
This incident follows two recent assassination attempts against former President Trump, highlighting the real-world consequences of inflammatory political rhetoric. Von Haefen’s post particularly concerned many conservatives who see a double standard in how calls for violence are treated depending on which side of the political aisle they originate.
“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.”
Speaker Hall further emphasized that “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 Republican leadership’s swift response demonstrates growing intolerance for rhetoric that could incite violence against conservative figures and voters.
The timing of the Democrats’ post coincided with a period of heightened political tensions, occurring shortly after a shooting targeting lawmakers in Minnesota. Many conservative commentators note that while Democrats frequently accuse Republicans of dangerous rhetoric, incidents like von Haefen’s post reveal a troubling comfort with imagery depicting violence against political opponents on the left.
Sources:
https://www.theblaze.com/news/nc-dem-behead-trump-delete