The fallout from last week’s failed assassination attempt against President Trump took an unexpected turn in Wisconsin, where Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad escalated an already volatile situation with a series of public posts that quickly drew attention beyond social media.
Bangstad initially posted on Facebook that his brewery would offer free beer if President Trump were killed. The statement circulated widely and prompted multiple users to report it. Facebook reviewed the post and determined it did not violate its Community Standards, a decision that added another layer of controversy given the timing and subject matter. While the platform declined to act, the post appears to have triggered concern elsewhere.
Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad has potentially committed a serious federal crime by posting a Secret Service agent's cell phone number and telling his followers to call the agent and tell him to "stand down" from the investigation into Bangstad.… pic.twitter.com/hulJQXqqtT
— The Heartland Post (@HeartlandPostWI) April 30, 2026
According to reports, Bangstad was contacted by the U.S. Secret Service. Instead of handling the outreach privately, he chose to publicize it. He posted about the voicemail he received and, more significantly, shared the agent’s phone number on the company’s Facebook page. In his accompanying message, Bangstad urged followers to call the agent and pressure him to “stand down and honor his oath to his country.”
That move shifted the situation from a controversial statement into something more direct. Publishing a federal agent’s contact information and encouraging others to make calls raises immediate questions about harassment and interference. The Secret Service operates under a clear mandate to protect the President, and unsolicited pressure campaigns against individual agents complicate that responsibility.
I would think that offering a financial good for the death of a president would be kind of illegal too.
— Passably Affable (@tbrusletten) May 1, 2026
Bangstad’s online activity has drawn scrutiny before. He has previously targeted groups such as Moms for Liberty and certain conservative school board members, often referencing the Southern Poverty Law Center’s materials. Those actions, while separate, form part of a broader pattern that critics point to when assessing his latest posts.
Uh yeah, this is illegal in multiple ways. This guy certainly isn’t the brightest crayon in the box. https://t.co/Q1ygVxpL0J
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) May 1, 2026
The involvement of federal law enforcement suggests the situation is being taken seriously beyond the realm of online discourse. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s office has not publicly detailed any next steps, but the combination of a high-profile threat environment and the public dissemination of a federal agent’s contact information places the matter firmly on official radar.
This man is on a generational run and Kirk decided now was a good time to act silly? https://t.co/b15AKCZ8G9 pic.twitter.com/z3L6p5wpAr
— Shadow Governor Vos (@Robin_Vos_Stan) April 30, 2026
Whether any of Bangstad’s followers acted on his call to contact the agent is unclear. What is clear is that the incident has moved beyond a single inflammatory post into a sequence of actions with potential legal and security implications, particularly at a moment when tensions are already heightened.
