In a significant move targeting the Muslim Brotherhood, US President Donald Trump has directed officials to assess whether certain chapters of the organization should be classified as terrorist groups. This potential designation would trigger economic sanctions and travel restrictions against the group. The executive order, issued on Monday, mandates a comprehensive report to investigate whether branches in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan qualify as foreign terrorist organizations or specially designated global terrorists. The order highlights alleged connections between the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, as well as claims of destabilization efforts that harm regional stability, US citizens, and American interests. Established nearly a century ago, the Muslim Brotherhood is already banned in Egypt and Jordan. The directive tasks US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with consulting Attorney General Pam Bondi and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to produce the report within 30 days. If warranted, officials will have an additional 45 days to impose sanctions. A terrorist designation would criminalize support for the group, enforce economic penalties, and bar its members from entering the US. The White House stated that Trump is addressing the Muslim Brotherhood’s transnational network, which allegedly fuels terrorism and destabilization in the Middle East. This development follows Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s recent declaration of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization and transnational criminal entity, a move that also targeted the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the US. The Brotherhood, founded in Egypt, has diverse local chapters worldwide, with some advocating for governance under Islamic law (Sharia). Trump had previously considered designating the group as a terrorist organization during his first term, following discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi. The Brotherhood is outlawed in Egypt and several Arab nations, where it is viewed as a threat. In April, Jordan banned the group after arresting members suspected of planning rocket and drone attacks.
Trump moves to designate some Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist groups
