FBI Visits Brewery After Trump Death Post

FBI agent holding a gun behind the back.

A far-left Wisconsin brewery owner mocked President Trump’s foiled assassination attempt with a “free beer day” post, then announced a run for governor amid federal scrutiny.

Story Snapshot

Kirk Bangstad, Minocqua Brewing owner, posted on Facebook lamenting a missed “#freebeerday” after the April 25, 2026, attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Bangstad suggested either poor marksmanship by a “brother or sister in the Resistance” or Trump faking it, reviving his long-standing pledge for free beer on Trump’s death.
FBI and Secret Service interviewed Bangstad and his lawyer around April 29 over perceived threats, confirming federal response to inflammatory rhetoric.
On May 2, Bangstad livestreamed his intent to run for Wisconsin governor, vowing to “stand up to Trump” and “save our democracy.”

Controversial Facebook Post Ignites Backlash

Kirk Bangstad posted on the Minocqua Brewing Company Facebook page days after the April 25, 2026, assassination attempt on President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The message read: “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.” Bangstad linked to anti-Trump merchandise, escalating his brewery’s years-long “free beer the day he dies” campaign. This rhetoric crossed into dangerous territory, prompting swift national outrage.

Bangstad’s History of Anti-Trump Activism

Bangstad founded Minocqua Brewing in northern Wisconsin as a progressive hub selling shirts like “I wish it was free beer day” and “Is he dead yet?” He ran as a Democrat for Wisconsin Assembly District 34 in 2020 but lost. Bangstad sued to bar Trump from the 2024 ballot and launched an anti-Trump super PAC. In January 2026, Fox News highlighted his invitation to celebrate Trump’s “impending death” with “no red hats allowed.” These actions built a pattern of extreme partisanship now under federal review.

Federal Investigation Follows Provocative Statements

FBI and Secret Service agents visited Bangstad and his lawyer around April 29-30, 2026, to interview them over “perceived threats” tied to the Facebook post. No charges have been filed, but the probe underscores heightened vigilance after multiple attempts on Trump’s life, including prior incidents in 2024 and this third foiled plot. Bangstad’s words tested free speech limits, raising concerns about rhetoric that could incite violence against a sitting president. Conservatives view this as emblematic of left-wing extremism eroding civil discourse.

Gubernatorial Bid Amid National Scrutiny

On May 2, 2026, Bangstad livestreamed for about an hour on the brewery’s Facebook page, announcing his exploratory run for Wisconsin governor. He declared, “I’m not gonna stand for this anymore,” positioning himself to challenge Trump and “save our democracy.” Despite prior electoral losses and ties to Democrats like Francesca Hong, whom he calls a friend, Bangstad criticizes the field as insufficiently aggressive. Wisconsin’s 2026 race, post-Tony Evers’ term limits, becomes a battleground spotlighting Democratic fringes.

Broader Implications for Politics and Free Speech

Bangstad’s saga highlights frustrations across the political spectrum with elite rhetoric prioritizing division over solutions. Republicans, controlling Congress, weaponize the story for midterms, while Wisconsin Democrats face embarrassment in a swing state. Boycotts threaten the brewery’s tourism-dependent business in Minocqua, yet anti-Trump merch sales spike ironically. This episode tests boundaries between expression and incitement, fueling shared distrust in a polarized government failing everyday Americans on core issues like the economy and security.