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President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing US federal agencies to assess and potentially designate specific chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations.
Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the Muslim Brotherhood is essentially a transnational Sunni Islamist movement that was founded in Egypt in 1928. Their goal is to promote Islamic values and governance through social, political, and charitable work. Over the decades, it expanded across the Middle East, establishing influential branches in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, and the Palestinian territories. While some supporters argue that the Brotherhood represents a moderate voice for political Islam and social reform, critics accuse it of fostering extremism and providing ideological foundations for terrorist groups such as Hamas, al-Qaeda, and ISIS. Governments in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others have banned the organization, citing its alleged involvement in coup plots, incitement of violence, and attempts to undermine state institutions.
What’s going on now: Late last night, President Trump signed an executive order that directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to launch a formal review into whether specific Muslim Brotherhood chapters (particularly those in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon) should be designated as “foreign terrorist organizations” (FTOs) and “specially designated global terrorists” (SDGTs). The order does not name any chapters directly but sets a 30-day deadline for a report assessing potential designations, followed by a 45-day window for imposing sanctions if warranted.
The executive order points to national security concerns, citing the Muslim Brotherhood’s alleged involvement in destabilizing activities, particularly in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel. It specifically references the Brotherhood’s Lebanese chapter joining forces with Hamas and Hezbollah to launch rocket strikes, and claims that leaders in Egypt and Jordan either supported or encouraged violent campaigns targeting US allies. The administration’s goal, according to the White House, is to “deprive these chapters of resources” and “end any threat such chapters pose to US nationals or national security.”
This directive comes just days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a state declaration labeling the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations.
