A brewery in Wisconsin is facing strong criticism after posting a message on social media that many people felt was inappropriate following an attempted attack on former President Donald Trump.
The company, Minocqua Brewing Company, shared a post on Facebook on Saturday night that said, “Well we almost got #freebeerday.” This quickly upset many people online. The brewery is owned by a man who once ran as a Democratic candidate.
Most political leaders from both sides have spoken out against the attack and said violence like this is wrong. At the same time, there has been ongoing blame and arguments between political groups, with some saying harsh political language is making things worse in the country. Trump and people close to him have also faced threats and controversial comments in the past.
The owner of the brewery, Kirk Bangstad, had previously said he would give away free beer on the day Trump dies, which adds more context to why people reacted so strongly to the recent post.
The message came shortly after a serious security incident. A man reportedly rushed through a security checkpoint and ran toward the area where a major event was happening. He was later arrested, and Trump was not hurt. Authorities believe the suspect may have been targeting officials connected to Trump’s administration.
Political violence has been rising in recent years. Reports show hundreds of incidents between 2021 and 2024, making it one of the most intense periods of political unrest in decades.
After the brewery’s post went viral, both Democrats and Republicans criticized it. A spokesperson for the Wisconsin Democratic Party called the message completely unacceptable and said it should be taken down immediately. They also said they are willing to call out bad behavior no matter which side it comes from.
Republicans also reacted strongly. Some accused Democrats of not doing enough to condemn such comments. One Republican spokesperson said it was shocking that anyone would joke about something as serious as an attempted attack.
Rebecca Cooke, a Democrat running for Congress in Wisconsin, also spoke out. She said the kind of language used in the post is dangerous and shows how broken the political system has become. She made it clear she does not support any form of political violence.
When asked about the backlash, the brewery defended itself in an email and even shared that response publicly. Instead of apologizing, the company questioned the media and raised doubts about the incident, suggesting some people don’t even believe the attack was real. The message also included sarcastic comments and invited a reporter to attend their so-called “free beer day” in the future.
The situation became even more controversial when the brewery doubled down on its position in later posts. It repeated claims that the attack might have been staged and criticized Democrats for reacting too quickly by condemning violence.
Meanwhile, authorities continue to warn that threats against political figures are increasing. Thousands of concerning messages and behaviors were investigated in 2025 alone, showing how serious the issue has become.
During the event itself, the situation was chaotic. Reports say the suspect had weapons and managed to get past security before being stopped. Secret Service agents quickly removed Trump and others from the area to keep them safe. One officer was injured but survived thanks to protective gear.
After the incident, Trump called for calm and asked Americans to settle their differences peacefully. However, he also blamed political opponents, saying their language contributes to the problem.
Other leaders from both parties also spoke out. Former President Barack Obama said everyone must reject violence completely. California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was relieved people were safe and reminded everyone that violence is never acceptable. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham urged people to stay calm and be part of the solution instead of adding to the problem.
