Brewery Faces Protests, Bad Reviews Over Trump Assassination Attempt Posts
A Wisconsin brewery is facing protests and a flood of negative reviews after social media posts appeared to celebrate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Owner Kirk Bangstad, a former Democratic candidate and critic of Trump, defended the posts, which referenced a long-standing offer of free beer if Trump died. The backlash has been bipartisan, with condemnation from both Democratic and Republican officials who called the rhetoric dangerous and unacceptable. Yelp has flagged unusual review activity and temporarily disabled new reviews on the brewery’s page.
- ▪Minocqua Brewing Company posted on Facebook after an assassination attempt on Trump, saying 'we almost got #freebeerday' and reaffirming an offer of free beer upon his death.
- ▪Owner Kirk Bangstad, a progressive activist and former Democratic candidate, previously founded an anti-Republican super PAC and filed a lawsuit to remove Trump from Wisconsin’s 2024 ballot.
- ▪The brewery received over 150 one-star Yelp reviews, prompting the site to issue an 'Unusual Activity Alert' and temporarily block new reviews.
- ▪Both Democratic and Republican leaders, including Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong and GOP congressional candidate Michael Alfonso, condemned the posts as dangerous and unacceptable.
- ▪The brewery responded to criticism by mocking protesters and announcing a 'beer tasting' at the same time as the planned protest.
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By Khaleda RahmanNational CorrespondentShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.A Wisconsin brewery is facing a protest and being inundated with negative online reviews over social media posts that appeared to cheer the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.The Minocqua Brewing Company drew a furious backlash over a post that was shared on Facebook after an armed man tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday, where Trump and much of the much of the nation’s political leadership had gathered.Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was charged with the attempted assassination of Trump on Monday.While most leaders in both parties have…
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