President Donald Trump has designated the Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, citing involvement in violence, regional destabilization, and support for Hamas and allied militant groups. The directive mandates a joint security report within 30 days
Trump Designates Muslim Brotherhood Chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
President Donald Trump on Monday designated specific chapters and subdivisions of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
The designation targets the group’s branches in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt for allegedly “engaging in or supporting violence and destabilization campaigns” that threaten their regions, U.S. citizens, and American interests.
According to the presidential action, Trump invoked his constitutional and statutory powers under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to issue the designation.
Trump noted that the Muslim Brotherhood—founded in Egypt in 1928—has evolved into a global transnational network implicated in violent activities across the Middle East and beyond. He referenced the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, during which the Muslim Brotherhood’s Lebanese chapter allegedly joined Hamas, Hezbollah, and allied Palestinian factions in coordinated strikes on civilian and military targets.
The President also highlighted statements by a senior MB figure in Egypt on October 7, 2023, calling for attacks on U.S. partners and interests, alongside allegations that Jordanian MB leaders provided support to Hamas’ militant wing.
Trump directed the Secretaries of State and the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit a joint report on the designation within 30 days.
The development comes days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organization, prohibiting it from acquiring land in the state. Abbott also designated the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR)—the largest Muslim civil liberties organization in the U.S., founded in 1994—as both an FTO and TCO. Read More
