The Minocqua Brewing Company, a Wisconsin brewery owned by former Democratic state Assembly candidate Kirk Bangstad, is facing renewed scrutiny after posting on Facebook that it 'almost got #freebeerday' following Saturday night's security scare at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington where President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were evacuated after shots were fired outside the ballroom.
The post, which Fox News could not immediately verify as being authored by Bangstad himself, said: 'Either a brother or sister in the Resistance needs to work on their marksmanship or he faked another assassination to get a positive news cycle. We'll never know.' The message concluded: 'Regardless, we stand at the ready to pour free beer the day it happens.'
Bangstad has previously used the brewery's platform to promote anti-Trump messaging. In January, Bangstad told Fox News that he would welcome people to celebrate Trump's 'impending death' with free beer, adding a caveat: 'no red hats allowed.' The brewery sells merchandise including shirts reading 'I wish it was free beer day.'
Bangstad also founded the Minocqua Brewing Company super PAC, which targets Trump and Republicans. He previously sued to keep Trump off Wisconsin ballots ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic congressional candidate Rebecca Cooke, who Fox News reported had previously worked for Bangstad, responded to requests for comment by condemning political violence without referencing her former employer by name.
'This rhetoric is dangerous and unacceptable – showcasing just how broken our political system is,' Cooke's campaign manager said in an email. 'I denounce all forms of political violence. We need to bring the temperature down, stop pitting working folks against each other, and come together to solve the very serious problems facing our communities.'
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong's campaign also responded but did not mention Bangstad by name. The Wisconsin Democratic Party did not respond to requests for comment at time of publication.
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois condemned political violence following another incident, saying Trump's rhetoric 'often foments it,' though he was not specifically addressing the Minocqua Brewing post.
What the Right Is Saying
The Republican National Committee and Wisconsin Republicans swiftly condemned the post as dangerous normalization of anti-Trump violence.
'Wisconsin Democrats are so sick in the head that an attempted murder is funny to them,' RNC spokesperson Delanie Bomar told Fox News Digital. 'All Wisconsin Democrats, including Rebecca Cooke, must immediately condemn this disgusting behavior.'
Michael Alfonso, a Trump-backed Republican candidate for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District, highlighted Bangstad's connections to Democratic candidates on social media.
'This brewery is owned by a man named Kirk Bangstad, and he's not just some random crazy guy,' Alfonso posted on X. 'Kirk is friends with current Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Francesca Hong. He previously employed Rebecca Cooke, the Democrat currently running against Derrick Van Orden.'
The National Republican Congressional Committee called on Cooke to specifically denounce Bangstad by name.
'Rebecca Cooke needs to stop hiding and immediately denounce her former employer, Kirk Bangstad's dangerous and unhinged comments,' NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon said in a statement. 'Cooke's previous employment by Bangstad makes her silence even more unacceptable.'
What the Numbers Show
The White House Correspondents' Dinner security incident occurred Saturday night when law enforcement reported shots fired outside the venue where Trump was attending. The president and first lady were evacuated and later confirmed safe, according to Secret Service statements.
Bangstad ran as the Democratic nominee for Wisconsin's 34th Assembly District in 2020, losing the general election to Republican Representative Tom Magnanizano, according to Ballotpedia records.
The Minocqua Brewing Company super PAC is registered with the Federal Election Commission and has disclosed political expenditures targeting Republican candidates, per FEC filings available through OpenSecrets.
Bangstad entered a no-contest plea in a disorderly conduct case tied to a harassment charge related to a dispute with a local newspaper publisher, Wisconsin newspaper reporting confirmed. He was found guilty earlier this month.
The Bottom Line
The Minocqua Brewing post underscores ongoing tensions around political rhetoric as Republicans seek to tie Democratic candidates to anti-Trump messaging from their associates. The incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner remains under investigation by law enforcement.
Democratic candidates have condemned political violence broadly while stopping short of directly addressing Bangstad's specific comments or their prior connections to him. Republicans are pressing for more direct condemnations and arguing that association with such rhetoric should disqualify candidates from voter support.
What happens next: Watch for whether Cooke, Hong, or other Wisconsin Democrats explicitly address Bangstad by name in future statements. The RNC has signaled it will continue highlighting the connections ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Law enforcement has not announced any arrests related to the WHCA dinner incident as of publication time.