President Donald Trump on Monday called on the U.S. to consider labeling some Middle Eastern affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations.
In an executive order, Trump instructed his administration to review chapters in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and other countries. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have 30 days to submit a report and 45 days thereafter to take action.
The White House said the groups “engage in or facilitate violence and destabilization campaigns.” The order cited the Lebanese chapter’s military wing for firing rockets at Israel after the October 7, 2023, attack. It also alleged an Egyptian leader encouraged attacks against U.S. partners.
Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood chapter has reportedly supported Hamas, itself a U.S.-designated terrorist organization and an offshoot of the Brotherhood.
If these groups are formally designated, U.S. law would make it illegal to provide funding or support. Members could face travel bans, and any funds held in U.S. banks could be frozen.
The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in Egypt nearly a century ago. It has been influential across the Middle East. Mohammed Morsi, a Brotherhood-affiliated leader, was elected president of Egypt in 2012 but was ousted the following year by the military.
Some Brotherhood leaders have renounced violence, but the group remains controversial. Critics, including U.S. allies, say some affiliates engage in violence or extremist activities. Egypt banned the Brotherhood in 2013, and Jordan followed earlier this year.
The White House said Trump is confronting the Brotherhood’s “transnational network,” which fuels terrorism and threatens U.S. interests in the region.
The move follows a similar action by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who last week declared the Brotherhood a terrorist organization and blocked it from buying land. Abbott also targeted the Council on American-Islamic Relations, prompting a lawsuit.
Trump has used executive power before to label organizations as terrorist groups. Earlier this year, his administration designated several Latin American drug cartels, including Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles. Analysts note the Venezuelan group is loosely organized, mainly involving government officials linked to crime and drug trafficking.
The administration also recently designated four European groups tied to antifa. Trump has labeled antifa as a domestic terror organization, though U.S. law does not formally designate domestic groups. Antifa generally refers to a decentralized network of left-wing activists.
Trump first considered labeling the Muslim Brotherhood as a terror group during his first term. The current executive order formalizes a review process and signals a renewed focus on Middle Eastern threats tied to the movement.
Supporters of the order say it targets organizations that use ideology to fuel attacks and destabilize countries. Critics warn that such a designation could complicate diplomatic relations and inflame regional tensions.
The review process will determine whether the U.S. formally adds these Brotherhood affiliates to the list of foreign terrorist organizations. If approved, the move would increase legal consequences for anyone in the U.S. providing support to the groups and could impose sanctions on leaders or members abroad.
The administration’s approach highlights a broader strategy to combat global networks seen as threats to U.S. security. Trump and his advisers argue that stronger measures are necessary to limit the influence of groups linked to violent campaigns in the Middle East.
