The FBI’s Milwaukee field office confirmed that it is aware of Kirk Bangstad’s Facebook post on this weekend’s attempted assassination of President Trump and offer of free beer the day Trump dies.
The FBI’s Milwaukee field office said Tuesday it is aware of social media posts by the owner of Minocqua Brewing Company referencing a Saturday night’s assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
The posts, made Saturday on the brewery’s Facebook page by owner Kirk Bangstad, followed a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. Bangstad has previously promoted a “free beer day” at his business on the day Trump dies.
“Well, we almost got #freebeerday,” Bangstad wrote. “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. Regardless, we stand at the ready to pour free beer the day it happens. Our celebration of life is going to be legendary!”
The FBI Milwaukee field office issued a statement in response to Bangstad’s apparent offer of a reward for the assassination of the President.
“The FBI is aware of these posts,” it said. “Hateful rhetoric and speech are despicable. Threats of violence or terrorism will be investigated by the FBI, and the public is encouraged to report any threats of violence.”
Bangstad, a prominent figure in left-wing politics in Wisconsin, has faced backlash from both Democrats and Republicans over the post. Wisconsin Democratic Party officials called the rhetoric “completely unacceptable.” Bangstad, though, refused to apologize and doubled and even tripled down online.
The FBI did not indicate whether it was investigating Bangstad.
