Oklahoma City councilor resigns after vile remark to Trump supporter causes uproar

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA: Bree Danyele Montoya, a city council member from Norman, Oklahoma's Ward 3, resigned on Tuesday, September 23, after a Facebook comment of hers resurfaced, in which she told a Trump supporter to harm herself. It went viral after Libs of TikTok shared it.

Critics say the resignation comes after months of inaction from the city council until the exchange gained national traction online. Since then, the City of Norman has emphasized that while elected officials speak for themselves, it "does not support actions or behaviors that may encourage harm."

Bree Montoya says she is ready to pursue other interests

Bree Montoya said at the meeting, "In various capacities, I have served this community since 2008, and I am ready to pursue other interests. Effective immediately, I am resigning as councilmember for Ward 3. Thank you, Ward 3."

Constituent Audra Abbott, the recipient of Montoya’s comments, told FOX affiliate KOKH that she was shocked when she realized who had written them.

She said, "I saw that she was a city council member within moments of her posting it, and I was like, 'Wow, I can’t believe that an elected official would talk like that online'."

"If it hadn’t gone viral with Libs of TikTok picking it up, I don’t think that anything would have happened at all," she added.

Meanwhile, Chaya Raichik from the Libs of TikTok told Fox News, "With a rising trend of violent left-wing extremists targeting conservatives, it is our duty to hold elected officials, such as Oklahoma City Councilor Bree Montoya, accountable for violent rhetoric, regardless of their status or position."

"While the fake news media refuses to acknowledge the truth of the rising epidemic of far-left violence, Libs of TikTok will continue to expose elected leaders who promote violence, demonize ICE, or issue threatening statements against the American people," Raichik added.

Official says Norman does not support actions that encourage harm

Norman Chief Communications Officer Tiffany Martinez Vrska informed Fox News in an email, "The City of Norman as a municipal corporation does not support actions or behaviors that may encourage harm; carrying out municipal functions that provide or support public service remains the focus of the corporation."

She said that elected officials speak only for themselves when making personal remarks.

Moreover, officials pointed to resources and explained Norman’s council–manager government structure and how the Ward 3 vacancy will be filled in the near future.

Montoya wrote the Facebook comment back in June, when she and Abbott argued on the social media platform about the size of a "No Kings" protest.

Furthermore, Montoya called Abbott "uneducated" and told her to harm herself. 

Screenshots of their conversation went viral in local Facebook groups during the summer before Libs of TikTok recently amplified them on social media.

Abbott and others said that Norman officials ignored the controversy until the post went viral.

Montoya was first elected in 2023, was re-elected in February 2025, was sworn in again on July 1, and resigned less than three months later.

Meanwhile, Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman addressed the incident on Tuesday.

"As your mayor, I want to affirm our commitment to upholding the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The right to free speech is fundamental to our democracy, and it is our responsibility to ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to express their opinions and be heard," Holman said.

The Mayor added, "While we honor the right to free speech, we must also maintain an environment that is respectful, orderly and conducive to productive discussion. My goal is to ensure that every voice in this room can be heard while maintaining the integrity and decorum of our meetings. I ask for your cooperation and mutual respect as we continue to work together for the betterment of Norman."