A Wisconsin brewery owned by Democratic politician Kirk Bangstad posted on Facebook that "we almost got #freebeerday" after Saturday night's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner that forced President Trump's evacuation.
The Minocqua Brewing Company has promised free beer "all day long, the day he dies" since Trump took office. After the failed attack at the Washington dinner, the brewery's social media account lamented the outcome.
"Well, we almost got #freebeerday," the company's Facebook post read. "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 post concluded: "Regardless, we stand at the ready to pour free beer the day it happens."
Bangstad ran unsuccessfully as the 2020 Democratic nominee for Wisconsin's 34th Assembly District. He has turned his brewery into a political weapon, selling merchandise with slogans like "I wish it was free beer day" and marketing what he calls "snarky progressive merch."
The brewery owner previously told customers they could celebrate Trump's "impending death" at his establishment with one restriction: "no red hats allowed." Bangstad also founded the Minocqua Brewing Company super PAC to target Trump and Republicans, and sued to remove Trump from Wisconsin's 2024 presidential ballot.
Fox News could not immediately confirm whether Bangstad personally authored Saturday's Facebook post celebrating the near-miss assassination. The brewery did not respond to requests for comment Sunday.
The post represents the latest escalation in Democrats' increasingly violent rhetoric toward Trump. Saturday's security scare occurred when shots were fired outside the ballroom at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, forcing Secret Service agents to evacuate Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
This marks Trump's third assassination attempt since returning to office. The Wisconsin brewery's celebration of political violence highlights how some Democrats have moved beyond opposing Trump's policies to openly hoping for his death.
The incident raises questions about whether the Justice Department will investigate Bangstad's repeated public statements encouraging violence against a sitting president. Federal authorities have yet to comment on the brewery's social media activity.
Wisconsin Democratic Party officials also declined to comment on whether they condemn Bangstad's statements. The silence suggests party leaders may be unwilling to criticize one of their own activists, even when celebrating attempted murder.
Bangstad's brewery continues operating in Minocqua, Wisconsin, selling politically-themed alcohol and merchandise while maintaining its "free beer day" promise. The establishment has faced previous backlash but continues its provocative marketing strategy targeting conservative customers.
