Wisconsin Democrat Brewery Owner Celebrates 'Free Beer Day' After Trump Assassination Attempt
A Wisconsin brewery owner's post celebrating a presidential assassination attempt exposes tensions within the Democratic Party as candidates issue vague denunciations while avoiding naming the operative by name.
A Wisconsin Democratic brewery owner posted "we almost got #freebeerday" hours after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, targeting President Trump. The post laid bare a troubling pattern of normalized violence rhetoric within the Democratic Party's activist base. Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewing Company and a prominent Democratic operative, stood by his comments even as party candidates offered vague denunciations that carefully avoided naming him.
"Well, we almost got #freebeerday," Bangstad's brewery posted on Facebook April 25. "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."
The post echoed the brewery's standing offer to serve free beer "all day long, the day he dies," documented in a January Facebook promise: "Show us this post when it happens in a few months and we'll make good on that promise." Bangstad told Fox News in January he would welcome people to celebrate Trump's "impending death" with the caveat "no red hats allowed."
Bangstad is no fringe figure. He is a significant Democratic operative who founded a Super PAC that raised over $1 million, filed a lawsuit to block Trump from Wisconsin's 2024 ballot, and ran for state Assembly in 2020. His brewery sells "I Wish It Was Free Beer Day" shirts and politically-themed beers named for Democratic politicians, including Bernie Sanders (via "Bernie Brew") and Tammy Baldwin (via "Tammy Shandy").
Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesman Phil Shulman called Bangstad's rhetoric "completely unacceptable and should be retracted immediately." Democratic frontrunners for governor and Congress issued abstract condemnations that avoided naming Bangstad or his specific post.
Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Francesca Hong posted a thread on X denouncing political violence while also stating, "The state enacts political violence on its citizens every day. We see it when ICE agents occupy our cities and put children in cages." Her campaign manager Becky Cooper told Fox News the brewery's tweet "is intentionally inflammatory and a symptom of the normalization of political violence."
Hong never mentioned Bangstad by name. Neither did Rebecca Cooke, Democratic candidate for Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District challenging Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden. Cooke worked for Bangstad during his 2016 congressional campaign.
"This rhetoric is dangerous and unacceptable – showcasing just how broken our political system is," Cooke told Fox News. "I denounce all forms of political violence."
NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon responded, "Rebecca Cooke needs to stop hiding and immediately denounce her former employer, Kirk Bangstad's dangerous and unhinged comments. Cooke's previous employment by Bangstad makes her silence even more unacceptable."
RNC spokeswoman Delanie Bomar said, "Wisconsin Democrats are so sick in the head that an attempted murder is funny to them. All Wisconsin Democrats, including Rebecca Cooke, must immediately condemn this disgusting behavior."
Bangstad doubled down April 26, calling the assassination attempt "arguably fake" in a Facebook post. "Leave it to the Corporate Dems and politically naive Democratic gubernatorial candidates to take the bait and condemn 'political violence' or 'politically violent rhetoric' after the 3rd questionably/arguable fake assassination attempt against Trump."
The April 25 shooting marked the third attempt on Trump's life since 2024. Suspect Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was arraigned in federal court on charges including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Allen appeared to target administration officials.
Political violence threats have surged nationwide. The U.S. Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section investigated 14,938 concerning statements in 2025, up from 9,474 in 2024.
Bangstad's political network runs deep. His Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC spent approximately $333,890 on two entities with no online footprint, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. He settled a $750,000 defamation judgment against Lakeland Times publisher Gregg Walker for $580,000 in 2024 and pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct charges in April 2026.
Trump-backed House candidate Michael Alfonso noted Bangstad's connections on X: "This brewery is owned by a man named Kirk Bangstad, and he's not just some random crazy guy. Kirk is friends with current Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Francesca Hong. He previously employed Rebecca Cooke."
The episode reveals a Democratic establishment reluctant to alienate activist bases that treat violence against Trump as political entertainment. As Bangstad's brewery continues selling "Free Beer Day" merchandise and his Super PAC funds progressive causes, Wisconsin Democrats face mounting pressure to draw clear lines against rhetoric celebrating presidential assassination attempts.