GOVERNOR Candidate Mocked Trump Assassination — FBI Arrives

A Wisconsin brewery owner who publicly mocked a failed assassination attempt on President Trump and has long promoted giving away free beer upon the President’s death is now launching a bid for governor, drawing federal scrutiny and exposing deep fractures within the Democratic Party.

Story Snapshot

Kirk Bangstad posted “we almost got #freebeerday” after April assassination attempt, suggesting shooter needed better “marksmanship”
FBI and Secret Service interviewed Bangstad and his lawyer following the inflammatory social media post
Minocqua Brewing Company owner announced gubernatorial run claiming to “save our democracy” from Trump
Bangstad has history of failed Democratic campaigns and connections to prominent Wisconsin Democrat candidates

Brewery Owner’s Disturbing Response to Assassination Attempt

Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewing Company in northern Wisconsin, posted a shocking message on Facebook following the foiled assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, 2026. The post stated: “Well, we almost got #freebeerday. 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 brewery has for years promoted a “free beer day” tied explicitly to Trump’s death, selling merchandise with slogans like “I wish it was free beer day” and “Is he dead yet?” This latest incident represents an escalation of rhetoric that many Americans find deeply troubling, regardless of political affiliation.

Federal Investigation and Legal Consequences

The inflammatory post triggered immediate action from federal law enforcement. Around April 29-30, 2026, the FBI and Secret Service visited Bangstad and his attorney for an interview regarding what officials termed “perceived threats.” The Secret Service confirmed the meeting, though no charges have been filed as of early May. This federal scrutiny underscores the serious nature of threatening rhetoric directed at sitting presidents, particularly following actual assassination attempts. For ordinary Americans watching unelected bureaucrats selectively enforce speech standards, the question remains whether such investigations would occur with equal vigor if the target were a Democratic politician rather than Trump.

From Failed Candidate to Gubernatorial Hopeful

On May 2, 2026, Bangstad livestreamed from his brewery’s Facebook page for approximately one hour, announcing his intention to run for Wisconsin governor. He framed his candidacy as necessary to “stand up to Trump” and “save our democracy,” criticizing the existing Democratic field as insufficiently anti-Trump. Bangstad’s political resume includes a 2020 loss in Wisconsin Assembly District 34, a failed lawsuit attempting to bar Trump from the 2024 ballot, and the founding of an anti-Trump super PAC. The brewery owner’s connections to Wisconsin Democrats run deep—he counts gubernatorial frontrunner Francesca Hong as a friend and has employed Rebecca Cooke, a 2026 congressional candidate challenging Republican Derrick Van Orden.

Wisconsin Democrats Face Embarrassing Primary Distraction

Bangstad’s entry into Wisconsin’s 2026 gubernatorial race creates an awkward situation for state Democrats competing in a crucial swing state. Wisconsin delivered narrow margins in recent presidential elections, making the governor’s race strategically vital for both parties. While Bangstad has virtually no chance of winning the Democratic primary given his history of electoral defeats and extreme rhetoric, his candidacy forces fellow Democrats to either denounce his comments and risk alienating the party’s most passionate anti-Trump faction, or remain silent and appear complicit in celebrating violence against the sitting president. Republican strategists are already weaponizing Bangstad’s statements, with Trump allies pointing to his Democratic connections to argue the rhetoric represents mainstream progressive sentiment rather than isolated extremism.

Broader Implications for Political Discourse

This controversy illuminates a disturbing reality that transcends partisan divisions: the coarsening of American political rhetoric to the point where assassination jokes become marketing tools. Whether from the right or left, citizens increasingly express frustration that political elites seem more focused on inflammatory attention-seeking than addressing the economic struggles facing millions of hardworking Americans. Bangstad’s brewery business model—selling craft beer alongside merchandise celebrating political violence—represents the commodification of hatred that many voters find repulsive. The federal government’s response, while appropriate given the circumstances, also raises legitimate concerns about unequal enforcement and whether establishment figures receive the same scrutiny when their supporters make threatening statements. As Wisconsin voters head toward primary season, this episode serves as a stark reminder of how far political discourse has degraded from the foundational principles of civil debate and respect for electoral outcomes that once defined American democracy.