President Trump has ordered his administration to consider designating Middle Eastern Muslim Brotherhood affiliates as foreign terrorist organizations, marking a decisive strike against groups accused of fueling anti-American violence and destabilization across the region.
Story Highlights
- Trump directs the evaluation of Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan for terrorist designation.
- Executive order cites groups’ support for Hamas and attacks against U.S. allies, including Israel.
- Designation would criminalize funding and freeze assets while enabling travel bans.
- The move follows Texas Governor Abbott’s recent ban on land purchases by the Muslim Brotherhood.
Executive Action Targets Regional Threat Network
President Trump signed an executive order on Monday, November 24, 2025, directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to evaluate Muslim Brotherhood affiliates for foreign terrorist organization status.
The administration has allocated 30 days for report submission and 45 additional days for implementation. This measured approach ensures thorough vetting while maintaining pressure on groups that threaten American interests and regional stability.
Trump says he will designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a TERRORIST organization ‘in the strongest and most powerful terms’
‘The final documents are being drawn’
Move comes days after Texas labeled the MB and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations and criminal groups pic.twitter.com/r4NgEoOkNm
— RT (@RT_com) November 23, 2025
Documented Connections to Anti-American Violence
The executive order details specific allegations against Muslim Brotherhood chapters across three key nations. The Lebanese chapter’s military wing allegedly launched rockets at Israel following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
Egyptian leadership encouraged violent attacks against U.S. partners, while Jordanian members provided material support to Hamas militants. These documented connections demonstrate a pattern of hostility toward America and its allies that demands decisive action.
The White House emphasized that these groups “engage in or facilitate and support violence and destabilization campaigns” against U.S. interests. This factual assessment reflects years of intelligence gathering and diplomatic observations.
The administration’s fact sheet stated that Trump is “confronting the Muslim Brotherhood’s transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East.”
Legal Consequences and Financial Restrictions
A designation as a foreign terrorist organization carries severe legal penalties that will cripple these groups’ operational capabilities. American citizens and entities would face criminal prosecution for knowingly providing funding or material support to designated organizations.
The Treasury Department gains authority to freeze assets held in U.S. financial institutions, while the State Department can impose travel restrictions on members and supporters.
These enforcement mechanisms have proven effective against other terrorist networks. The designation creates legal clarity for financial institutions, government agencies, and private citizens regarding prohibited associations.
This comprehensive approach ensures that American resources cannot flow to organizations that actively work against our national security interests and those of our democratic allies.
Building on State-Level Action Against Extremism
Trump’s federal initiative follows Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s recent declaration of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization within state borders. Abbott simultaneously banned the group from purchasing land in Texas and took similar action against the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
This coordinated federal-state approach demonstrates growing recognition that extremist organizations pose multifaceted threats requiring comprehensive responses across all levels of government.
The Trump administration has consistently used terrorist designations to protect American interests worldwide. Earlier in 2025, the administration designated Latin American drug cartels, European antifa affiliates, and Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as foreign terrorist organizations.
This pattern reflects a commitment to confronting threats regardless of their ideological origins or geographic locations, prioritizing American security over diplomatic convenience.
