Three days later, Democratic lawmaker offers scripted apology for social media post
Democratic Rep. Julie von Haefen of Wake County on Tuesday briefly expressed regret over a post she shared over the weekend depicting a decapitated Trump.
Democratic Rep. Julie von Haefen on Tuesday apologized for a social media post she made over the weekend that included an image of a protester holding up a sign that depicted a decapitated President Donald Trump.
Nearly three days later, the Wake County Democrat offered a 33-second scripted apology from the House floor.
“I want to apologize today,” von Haefen said while reading from her phone. “I apologize to members of the House, to my constituents and to any North Carolinian who was offended by what I posted. I am sorry.”
She added, “Every one of us needs to take accountability for when we make mistakes. I am taking that accountability today, and I appreciate the opportunity to do so.”
Standing alongside House Democratic Leader Robert Reives, von Haefen scurried off the floor shortly after session, declining to take reporter questions.
No Democratic lawmaker has publicly rebuked von Haefen, and Reives’ office didn’t respond to a request for comment sent on Sunday.
The occasion is the latest in an exhaustive pattern of Democrats and Republicans alike refusing to condemn the objectively questionable actions of the colleagues on their side of the aisle.
GOP backlash
In response to von Haefen’s apology, the NCGOP wrote on X, “No apology to President Trump or his family? RESIGN.”
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