The night was still reeling from shock. Just hours after a shooting scare at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner forced President Trump and his team to seek safety, a chilling reaction surfaced from an unexpected source: a Wisconsin brewery.
Minocqua Brewing Company, owned by Kirk Bangstad, reportedly expressed dismay that the attempt on the President’s life had failed. A now-deleted social media post allegedly lamented the missed opportunity for their controversial “free beer all day the day he dies” promotion, with a callous remark about “almost getting #freebeerdays.”
Bangstad is not a detached observer. He’s a deeply involved Democratic activist, having run for Wisconsin State Assembly and founded a Super PAC that channeled millions into Democratic campaigns and liberal causes. His political actions extend beyond funding; he actively sought to remove President Trump from the Wisconsin ballot in recent elections.
This isn’t an isolated incident. In 2022, a similar post advertising “free beer all day long, the day he dies” went viral, drawing widespread condemnation. The brewery owner’s actions reveal a disturbing pattern of animosity and a willingness to exploit violence for promotional gain.
The unsettling behavior doesn’t stop there. A disturbing account emerged of Bangstad offering a terminally ill patient the opportunity to repeatedly stab a Trump doll, reportedly finding amusement in her act of aggression. He even documented the event, suggesting his “voodoo dolls” provide a unique form of palliative care.
Just days before the shooting scare, the brewery’s social media hinted at a desire for the President’s death, wishing it were “free beer day.” This timing raises unsettling questions about potential foreknowledge of the attack, prompting calls for investigation by law enforcement.
Concerns are also being raised about the brewery’s apparent tolerance for violent rhetoric. Reports indicate that Instagram has repeatedly dismissed complaints regarding posts depicting violence against President Trump and ICE agents, despite repeated reports from concerned citizens.
The brewery seemingly serves as a gathering place for those openly hostile to the President, eagerly awaiting a grim “free beer day.” This echoes a dangerous trend of normalized violence against President Trump, a pattern seen in the rhetoric of some Hollywood figures and left-wing media.
The recent shooting is just the latest in a series of attempts on the President’s life. In 2024, a bullet grazed his ear during a rally, resulting in the tragic death of an innocent bystander. Subsequent incidents involved armed individuals attempting to breach security at Trump International Golf Club and Mar-a-Lago.
The reaction from Minocqua Brewing Company – a celebration of a failed attempt – underscores a disturbing willingness to profit from political animosity and even violence. This isn’t simply free speech; it’s a calculated exploitation of a dangerous situation.
Bangstad’s history includes a 2025 arrest for harassment and disorderly conduct stemming from a public confrontation with a local publisher. This incident highlights a pattern of aggressive behavior and a disregard for peaceful engagement.
The escalating attempts on the President’s life, coupled with the brazen response from Minocqua Brewing Company, paint a troubling picture. It’s a stark reminder of the deep divisions within the nation and the potential for those divisions to erupt into violence.
