Bangstad assassination posts get FBI’s attention

The Milwaukee field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation acknowledged this week that it was aware of social media posts by Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad promising to celebrate the death of President Donald Trump, as Democrats and Republicans alike distanced themselves from the activist’s remarks this past week.

In addition, presumptive Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany called out Democratic frontrunner Francesca Hong over her past support for Bangstad. Hong and her campaign danced around the matter in multiple posts in the days following the alleged assassination attempt, with Hong failing to condemn Bangstad by name and then her campaign explaining that she had not wanted to “uplift” Bangstad by naming him.

Controversy over the posts erupted following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) in Washington, D.C., on April 25, where law enforcement officials say Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, Calif., allegedly targeted Trump and members of his administration. 

After the shooting, in a Facebook post, Bangstad appeared to lament the alleged would-be assassin’s failure and promised a celebration if Trump were killed.

“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.”

The post quickly drew bipartisan condemnation and thrust Bangstad — a longtime progressive activist — into the center of a widening political storm. For starters, the Milwaukee field office of the FBI issued a statement to multiple media outlets saying it was aware of the posts.

“Hateful rhetoric and speech are despicable,” the FBI said in the statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and other outlets. “Threats of violence or terrorism will be investigated by the FBI, and the public is encouraged to report any threats of violence.”

Per standard practice, the FBI did not confirm or deny whether it was specifically investigating Bangstad.

For his part, Tiffany pointed to Hong’s past support of Bangstad, asking if she still stood with him.

“Yesterday, Francesca Hong posted ten times and never once criticized Kirk Bangstad,” Tiffany said. “Maybe today she can make it eleven and explain why she supported his campaign, along with why she voted against making child grooming a felony and why she opposed no state income taxes on tips and overtime? Does she still stand with Kirk Bangstad after his remarks about assassins needing better marksmanship?” 

According to Tiffany’s campaign, Hong donated to Bangstad’s 2020 campaign for the state Assembly, with the address used for the contribution matching the one listed on her current gubernatorial campaign website. 

In a lengthy thread, Hong condemned political violence but did not address her past support for the taproom owner.

“Too many people in politics — across the spectrum — have started treating it as background noise or an unavoidable cost of the job,” Hong posted. “We cannot let ourselves become numb to it.” 

However, as questions mounted about her lack of response about Bangstad himself, Hong’s campaign issued another statement to the media, this time dismissing Bangstad’s statements as an inappropriate joke.

“The post from Minocqua Brewing Company is wrong,” a Hong spokeswoman told Newsweek. “Joking about a sitting president’s assassination — or anyone’s — is wrong. Representative Hong said as much in her thread yesterday and didn’t want to uplift Bangstad or MBC in any way. Posts like his are exactly what she means by Americans getting ‘numb’ to political violence.” 

Other Democratic gubernatorial candidates also issued statements denouncing violent rhetoric. Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation secretary Missy Hughes called out political violence in general terms without mentioning Bangstad by name.

“I am relieved there are no reported victims from the shooting last night at the WHCD, and very thankful for the brave actions of law enforcement that kept everyone safe,” Hughes said. “Political violence has no place in our society. It is a scourge on our democracy that we must all make sure is never tolerated and embraced. This especially goes for those who make light of and encourage violent attacks. Such vile rhetoric is completely unacceptable and must be universally condemned.”

A campaign spokesperson later told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Hughes found Bangstad’s comments “deeply offensive and sadly representative of the toxic politics that is corroding public discourse today. These statements do not reflect Wisconsin values.”

Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes sidestepped the Bangstad controversy altogether but condemned political violence generally.

“Political violence is unacceptable and has no place in our country,” he said. “Thank you to the law enforcement officials who acted swiftly and bravely to keep everyone safe at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.”

Congressional races

Bangstad’s rhetoric was haunting Democrats in congressional races, too, particularly Democrat Rebecca Cooke, who is trying to unseat Republican Derrick Van Orden in the third congressional district. Cooke once worked for Bangstad, and the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Zach Bannon wasted no time calling for “left-wing political operative Rebecca Cooke” to not only denounce Bangstad but return any money she made from his campaign.

“As a reminder, as a political fundraiser, Rebecca Cooke worked on Kirk Bangstad’s failed campaign, pocketing thousands of dollars in the process,” Bannon said. “Now, after yet another dangerous and vile social media post from Bangstad, Cooke must immediately denounce his unhinged behavior and rhetoric and return the money she made off his campaign.”

Bannon said Cooke needed to stop hiding and denounce the comments he said were dangerous and unhinged. 

“Cooke’s previous employment by Bangstad makes her silence even more unacceptable,” he said. “Voters deserve to know whether she stands with Wisconsinites who reject this rhetoric or with the same extremist voices pushing it. If Cooke wants to be taken seriously, she should condemn Bangstad by name, and do it now.” 

Van Orden also weighed in, noting that Cooke worked as a consultant for Bangstad as far back as 2016, when Bangstad undertook a short-lived run for Congress.

“Cooke raked in thousands as a consultant tied to Bangstad’s congressional bid in 2016,” his campaign stated. “Bangstad founded a Democrat Super PAC, raised millions to support far-left candidates and causes, and even sued to remove President Trump from Wisconsin’s ballot.”

Van Orden campaign spokeswoman Grace Kim said Cooke owed voters answers.

“Does she condemn Bangstad’s rhetoric?” Kim said. “Does she stand by her past work for him? And why has she remained silent? Rebecca Cooke’s values are on full display. Cooke’s radical alignment is too dangerous for Wisconsin. The proof is right in front of us. Don’t buy it when she tries to tell you otherwise.”

For her part, Cook condemned political violence generally: “I denounce all forms of political violence. We need to bring the temperature down, stop pitting working folks against each other, and come together to solve the very serious problems facing our communities.”

In the first congressional district Republican congressman Brian Steil called Bangstad’s comments despicable and inappropriate, and said such language has to stop.

“I think further than that, I think every elected Democrat who is associated with that individual previously, in particular those people that have utilized his campaign donations that have benefited from his super PAC funding, need to step up and call that out for what it is: Unacceptable, inappropriate, disgusting,” Steil said.

In the seventh congressional district, Republican candidate Michael Alfonso wanted voters to grasp that Bangstad was not an outlier among Democrats.

“This brewery is owned by a man named Kirk Bangstad, and he’s not just some random crazy guy,” Alfonso said. “Kirk is friends with current Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Francesca Hong. He previously employed Rebecca Cooke, the Democrat currently running against Derrick Van Orden, and was himself the Democratic nominee against my father-in-law, Sean Duffy, in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District — where I am now running for office.”

Alfonso reiterated his point.

“I repeat: Kirk is not fringe,” he said. “His views are mainstream among Wisconsin progressives. It’s time to start admitting that leftism is inherently violent, that this isn’t a ‘both sides’ issue, and that radical Marxism must be rooted out of our institutions — especially our school system — immediately.”

For his part, after all the criticism, Bangstad doubled down.

“Leave it to the Corporate Dems and politically naive Democratic gubernatorial candidates to take the bait and condemn ‘political violence’ or ‘politically violent rhetoric’ after the 3rd questionably/arguable fake assassination attempt against Trump,” he posted.

The controversy has continued to gain traction on social media and in national media outlets, with Bangstad’s posts drawing attention from accounts such as Libs of TikTok and coverage from outlets including Newsweek and Fox News. Bangstad also posted screenshots and contact information for journalists who reached out to him, further fueling criticism of his conduct. 

Outside of the electoral arena, a spokesman for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin said the remarks were completely unacceptable and should be retracted.

“We’re not afraid to call out this sort of inappropriate behavior no matter where it comes from, our GOP colleagues should learn to do the same,” spokesman Phil Shulman told the Journal Sentinel. 

And Darryl Morin, president of Forward Latino, an advocacy organization in Franklin with members and affiliates in 29 states, also condemned violence.

“Gun violence continues to touch every corner of our country, no place or gathering is immune,” Morin said. “Tonight, it reached the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, despite detailed security planning and the presence of the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement. As authorities work to determine the target and motive, we condemn this act and all forms of gun violence. Our thoughts are with those affected tonight, and with every victim and family impacted by gun violence across the nation.”

Cole Tomas Allen has been charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump. It is the third alleged assassination attempt against the president, dating back to Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. Assassins made two attempts on the life of President Gerald Ford, both within weeks of each other.

Jimmy Kimmel

On the national level, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were calling for ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired after Kimmel staged a parody of the correspondents’ dinner, prior to the shooting, saying Melania Trump had “the glow of an expectant widow.”

Trump called Kimmel’s comments shocking.

“He then stated, ‘Our First Lady, Melania, is here. Look at Melania, so beautiful. Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an expectant widow.’ A day later a lunatic tried entering the ballroom of the White House Correspondents Dinner, loaded up with a shotgun, handgun, and many knives. He was there for a very obvious and sinister reason. I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale.”

Melania Trump echoed her husband’s comments.

“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country,” the First Lady posted. “His monologue about my family isn’t comedy — his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.”

People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate, Melania Trump said.

“A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him,” she posted. “Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. How many times will ABC’s leadership enable Kimmel’s atrocious behavior at the expense of our community?”

Kimmel said the joke was just misunderstood and was in fact about the age difference between the First Lady and the president.

“It was a very light roast joke about the fact that he’s [President Trump] almost 80 and she’s younger than I am,” Kimmel said. “It was not by any stretch of the definition a call to assassination and they know that I’ve been very vocal for many years speaking out against gun violence in particular.”

Richard Moore is the author of “Dark State” and may be reached at richardd3d.substack.com.