Wisconsin Brewery Owner Announces Gubernatorial Run After Posting About Trump Assassination Attempt

Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewery, filed papers to run for governor of Wisconsin, announcing his candidacy on social media. He stated he is running because Wisconsin needs a battle-hardened fighter to join the rest of America to save democracy from President Trump's regime.

The Federalist reported that Bangstad posted on his company Facebook page that the rumors are true and he filed the papers five minutes before writing the essay.

The announcement came one week after Minocqua Brewery posted on social media urging the next would-be assassin of President Trump to improve marksmanship. This followed a failed assassination attempt against President Trump last month. A gunman stormed past a security post at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, 2026.

Cole Tomas Allen, a 31-year-old man from California, has been charged with attempting to assassinate the president, transporting a firearm and ammunition with intent to commit a felony, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Kirk Bangstad wrote in a now-deleted social media post: '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.

Bangstad promised free beer all day long on the day of the president’s death earlier this year.

U.S. Secret Service spokespeople confirmed they are aware of the Minocqua Brewery social media post. S. Secret Service visited Minocqua Brewery on Thursday to interview Kirk Bangstad.

During the interview, an FBI agent asked Bangstad whether he wanted to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm to the president or the vice president, or has made threats to do that. Bangstad's lawyer Fred stated during the interview that Bangstad does not know anyone who wants to provide support to anyone who wants to harm Trump.

An FBI agent asked during the interview why Bangstad posted about a brother or sister in the Resistance. Fred responded during the interview that Bangstad meant the left in general, those who don’t like what’s going on and are mostly peacefully protesting the actions of the administration.

Bangstad posted a livestream video of the FBI and Secret Service interview, stating during the livestream that his lawyer Fred was with him and he was live-streaming to make sure this is transparent and public because we don’t trust the federal government anymore.

Bangstad included the phone number of the Secret Service agent in a follow-up post. Caroline Clancy, Public Affairs Officer for the FBI’s Milwaukee Division, stated in an email on Sunday evening that the investigation into Kirk Bangstad is ongoing.

U.S. Clancy also stated: 'The FBI and Secret Service together followed up on information received and conducted further investigative steps, which included a voluntary interview with the individual. Conservatives protested outside Minocqua Brewery over the weekend. Jessica Agnew organized the protest outside Minocqua Brewery.

Agnew told WJFW in Rhinelander: 'I would like to ask [Bangstad] to stop saying the things he’s saying. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin released a statement condemning Bangstad’s post and asserting the rhetoric is completely unacceptable and should be retracted immediately. State Rep.

Hong also stated on X on April 26, 2026: 'I also want to point out: The state enacts political violence on its citizens every day. We see it when ICE agents occupy our cities and put children in cages. Ilhan Omar tweeted calling for the execution of President Trump on February 11, 2026.

Mitch Rufer wrote on the Minocqua Brewery Facebook page: 'Hi Kirk, if [GOP candidate] Tom Tiffany becomes elected over Hong. I am holding you accountable. Bangstad ran against Republican state Rep.

Rob Swearingen for Wisconsin’s 24th Assembly District seat in 2020. Bangstad raised nearly $88,000 in his 2020 campaign. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin donated $2,837 to Bangstad's 2020 campaign.