North Carolina Democratic state representative Julie von Haefen faced intense backlash after posting a photo of a “No Kings” protest that included an image of a beheaded President Donald Trump. The post quickly went viral on social media, sparking calls for investigations by the Secret Service and FBI.

Von Haefen later apologized and deleted her social media account, but critics accused her of inciting violence and demanded accountability. The controversy comes amid heightened tensions following recent violent attacks on lawmakers, including the assassination of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and the attempted murders of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.

Social media users harshly criticized von Haefen, with some calling for her resignation and others accusing the Democratic Party of promoting division and violence. The incident has further fueled partisan outrage over political rhetoric and violence in the U.S.