U.S. President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Monday directing the State and Treasury Departments to move toward formally designating chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations — a policy shift that would mark one of the most significant counterterror actions taken by his administration in the Middle East.
The order instructs Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to produce, within 30 days, a comprehensive report recommending whether national chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood meet the legal threshold for designation as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) or Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). The administration must then implement any approved designations within 45 days.
According to a White House fact sheet, the step reflects Trump’s determination to confront “the Muslim Brotherhood’s transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East.”
The administration cites the organization’s activities in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, accusing these chapters of supporting violence, destabilizing governments, encouraging militant attacks on Israel, and providing material support to Hamas — itself an official Brotherhood offshoot.
The order highlights the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel as evidence, noting that the “military wing of the Lebanese chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood joined Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian factions to launch multiple rocket attacks against both civilian and military targets within Israel.”
Netanyahu Praises Trump: “This Endangers Stability Everywhere”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly commended Trump following the announcement, saying the move aligns with Israel’s longstanding view of the Brotherhood as a global security threat.
“This is an organization that endangers stability throughout the Middle East and beyond the Middle East,” Netanyahu posted on X, adding that Israel has already outlawed parts of the group and intends to expand those measures.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel described Trump’s action as “vital,” arguing the Brotherhood is not merely a political entity but a “transnational ideological network that radicalizes youth, spreads extremist doctrine… and undermines democratic values.”
Support and Opposition Abroad
The Brotherhood — founded in Egypt in 1928 — is already banned and designated as a terrorist group in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, and Russia. Turkey and Qatar remain its strongest backers, with Turkey’s ruling AKP drawing ideological inspiration from the movement.
Previous U.S. administrations resisted designation, citing varied national structures and legal complexities. Former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper once described the Egyptian Brotherhood as a “heterogeneous” and largely nonviolent movement — a characterization he later partially walked back.
Trump vowed to proceed “in the strongest and most powerful terms,” telling Just the News that the final documents are already being drafted.
Legal Challenges Expected
Secretary Rubio acknowledged that the process will face intense legal scrutiny.
“These things are going to be challenged in court,” Rubio said. “You have to show your work like a math problem.”
Under U.S. law, a group must pose a threat to American nationals or national security to qualify for FTO designation. The administration argues that Brotherhood chapters meet that threshold through their support for violent groups targeting both Israel and U.S. partners.
State-Level Actions Already Underway
The move follows Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s designation last week of the Muslim Brotherhood — along with CAIR — as terrorist organizations within the state. CAIR has sued Texas, calling the move defamatory and vowing to continue its civil rights work.
A Long-Standing Conservative Priority
The terrorist designation effort has been championed for years by Republicans and by former Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka, who celebrated Monday’s order as a “historic” moment.
The first Trump administration initiated a similar process, but never completed it. Monday’s action signals Trump’s intent to finish a long-sought policy initiative with major diplomatic implications across the Middle East.
