Trump Admin Labels 3 Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist Organizations/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump’s administration has designated the Lebanese, Jordanian, and Egyptian branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. The move enacts sanctions, freezes assets, and may complicate relations with nations like Qatar and Turkey. Officials say these groups support Hamas and threaten U.S. interests, while critics warn of political and diplomatic fallout.
Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation: Quick Looks
- Trump administration designates three Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist groups
- Lebanese branch labeled as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)
- Jordanian and Egyptian chapters identified as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs)
- Sanctions include asset freezes, criminal penalties, and restricted international financial activity
- U.S. officials cite support for Hamas and regional destabilization
- Some U.S. allies support the decision; others like Qatar and Turkey may push back
- Move expected to impact immigration and asylum screenings globally
- Decision aligns with years of conservative pressure to take action against the group
- Muslim Brotherhood denies engaging in violence
- Experts warn the designation could affect bilateral relations and Western visa policies
Trump Admin Labels 3 Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist Organizations
Deep Look
The Trump administration has escalated its campaign against Islamist political movements by formally designating three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. On Tuesday, officials at the U.S. Treasury and State Departments announced that the Lebanese, Jordanian, and Egyptian chapters had been placed under sanctions for alleged support of Hamas and acts of regional destabilization.
The State Department designated the Lebanese faction as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) — the most severe classification — making it a crime to offer any material support to the group. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department placed the Jordanian and Egyptian branches under its Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) list, targeting them for their financial and logistical backing of Hamas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the designations mark the beginning of a “sustained effort” to disrupt the Muslim Brotherhood’s violent networks. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, acting under a 2025 executive order signed by President Trump, helped lead the determination process.
“These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood chapters’ violence and destabilization wherever it occurs,” Rubio said in a statement. “The United States will use all available tools to deprive these Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism.”
The executive order noted that a wing of the Lebanese Brotherhood fired rockets into Israel following the deadly October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, triggering a broader war in Gaza. It also claimed that Jordanian Brotherhood leaders directly supported Hamas operations.
While Muslim Brotherhood representatives insist their movement is peaceful, U.S. officials say evidence links multiple chapters to violence, propaganda, and material support for terrorism.
Founded in Egypt in 1928, the Brotherhood has long been a polarizing force. It was banned in Egypt in 2013 and Jordan in 2025, though it continues to operate in some nations with more tolerance, including Qatar and Turkey. Analysts suggest the designations may win favor with U.S. allies like the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, but alienate others.
Nathan Brown, a political science professor at George Washington University, said the designations could complicate U.S. foreign relations.
“For other governments where the Brotherhood is tolerated, it would be a thorn in bilateral relations,” he said, specifically naming Qatar and Turkey.
Brown also warned the move could impact immigration, asylum claims, and visa approvals in the United States, Europe, and Canada. Brotherhood affiliations, even indirect ones, could now lead to increased suspicion and denial of entry or protection status.
Right-wing figures and Trump supporters have long pushed for the U.S. to crack down on the Muslim Brotherhood. Influencer Laura Loomer and others have accused the group of infiltrating U.S. institutions and advancing extremist goals under the guise of community outreach.
Republican-led states like Florida and Texas took independent action earlier this year by labeling the Brotherhood a terrorist organization at the state level.
Trump previously explored designating the Brotherhood during his first term in 2019, but the latest executive order finally formalized the administration’s intent, focusing initially on the three chapters most closely tied to violent incidents.
The practical impact of these designations will be significant. The FTO label brings with it criminal penalties for material support, visa bans, and financial sanctions. The SDGT classification freezes assets and prohibits U.S. citizens and companies from doing business with the targeted groups or their affiliates.
It is not yet clear whether further chapters — including those in North Africa, Southeast Asia, or Europe — will be investigated or designated next.
As the situation develops, this decision adds a new layer of complexity to the U.S. foreign policy landscape, immigration scrutiny, and domestic political debate around the influence of Islamist political movements.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.