Democrat Julie von Haefen is under fire after promoting violent anti-Trump imagery online. The North Carolina lawmaker deleted her account after sharing a shocking protest photo that many say crossed the line from political speech into incitement. Controversial Post Sparks Outrage North Carolina State Representative Julie von Haefen, a Democrat from Wake County, has come under fire after sharing content from a “No Kings” protest that depicted a mock guillotine with what appeared to be President Donald Trump’s head. The post appeared on her social media account amid recent politically motivated violence across the country, including assassination attempts against Trump and shootings targeting lawmakers in Minnesota. Republican North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall quickly condemned von Haefen’s actions, stating, “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 shared an image of a ‘protest sign’ that glorifies violence against her political opponents-including President Donald Trump.” Hall further characterized her behavior as “disgraceful” and failing to meet the standards expected from House members. It has been over a day since Julie Von Haefen posted a picture depicting the execution of the President and not a single NC House Democrat has condemned her actions. Their silence speaks volumes. #ncpol #ResignNow pic.twitter.com/cCmgsYnKYc — Rep. Brenden Jones (@BrendenJonesNC) June 16, 2025 Deletion and Legal Questions Following the intense backlash, von Haefen first edited the video to remove the offensive image before ultimately deactivating her entire social media account. This decision has raised additional concerns about potential violations of North Carolina’s records retention laws, which require elected officials to preserve their communications. Speaker Hall indicated he is considering legal actions against von Haefen due to the controversial post. The representative’s decision to delete her account rather than simply addressing the controversy has added another dimension to the situation, potentially compounding her legal troubles beyond the initial backlash. 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 Broader Political Context The “No Kings” protests emerged as demonstrations against Trump’s presidency, though reports indicate they experienced relatively low turnout. The ideology challenges existing power structures and occasionally employs revolutionary rhetoric that critics argue can incite violence. Von Haefen eventually issued a statement condemning political violence after removing the controversial content, specifically referencing the recent shootings in Minnesota targeting lawmakers. However, critics argue this response came too late and only after significant public pressure, questioning the sincerity of her disavowal. The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened political tensions nationwide, with concerns about election integrity and political violence dominating much of the discourse. This controversy serves as another example of how digital communications by elected officials can quickly escalate into major political flashpoints. Sources: NC state Democrat deletes account after posting No Kings propaganda advocating violence | Blaze Media This conservative fix — without protections — could help Democrats rig elections | Blaze Media