Minocqua Brewing Owner’s Controversial Remarks
Kirk Bangstad operates the Minocqua Brewing Company in Wisconsin and has attracted attention for his comments regarding violence against opposing political figures. He is seen as a notable figure on the left side of the American political spectrum who seems to take pleasure from news involving violence directed at conservatives.
For instance, he quickly posted a statement, “F**k Charlie Kirk,” shortly after the assassination of the founder of Turning Point USA, who was killed at Utah Valley University. Not long after, he made another post saying, “May his soul never find rest.”
His comments didn’t stop there. Bangstad expressed joy over Kirk’s death and previously faced legal troubles, having been ordered to pay significant restitution in a defamation case. In a distressing January message, he mentioned that he would provide “free beer all day long on the day he dies.” While he did not directly name President Trump, his comments suggested he had the president in mind when discussing efforts to halt the upcoming presidential elections in Wisconsin.
In a post after circulating a wanted poster for federal agents, he called for “regime change” in the U.S. and hinted at Trump’s possible death by stating, “It’s only a matter of time before all ICE agents are brought to justice.” He made a rather alarming promise: should a death occur, he was willing to back up his words.
Interestingly, the Wisconsin Democratic Party had remained relatively quiet about Bangstad’s extreme views earlier, despite previous warnings from the U.S. Secret Service. However, they took notice after he made light of an assassination attempt on Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, posting, “Well, #freebeerday is almost here.” He further suggested that the Resistance needed to either improve their shooting skills or fake another assassination attempt for publicity, adding that it would create a positive news cycle.
A spokesperson from the Wisconsin Democratic Party criticized Bangstad’s rhetoric, calling it totally unacceptable. They emphasized that such behavior should be called out, and the party’s members should adopt similar condemnation toward political violence and inflammatory comments.
Mandela Barnes, a former lieutenant governor now running for governor as a Democrat, openly condemned anyone rejoicing over the violence and highlighted the importance of law enforcement’s quick actions in safeguarding everyone involved.
Francesca Hong, another Democratic candidate running for governor, asserted that Bangstad’s comments were deliberately provocative, indicating a disturbing acceptance of political violence. Missy Hughes, another candidate, agreed that such statements warranted widespread condemnation.
Even those who had previously worked with Bangstad have expressed their disappointment. Rebecca Cook, who once collaborated with him during his unsuccessful 2016 campaign, described his rhetoric as dangerous and indicative of the flawed political environment.
Bangstad’s thin skin appeared to show as he responded to the backlash, mentioning that some of his merchandise included voodoo doll T-shirts depicting Trump officials. In a Facebook post, he criticized Democrats for denouncing political violence and for not holding Trump accountable regarding claims of ongoing threats associated with assassination attempts.
In a more recent post, Bangstad seemed to walk back comments about the need for the left to “brush up on its marksmanship,” suggesting it was an exaggeration. However, he added that Trump’s hypothetical demise could alleviate the nation’s struggles and would mark the end of a troubling era of ignorance and bigotry.
