Trump Designates CONTROVERSIAL Muslim Brotherhood as Terror Organization

President Trump’s executive order targets Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist organizations, potentially crippling the network behind Hamas and other jihadist threats—but will it finally dismantle their global reach?

Story Snapshot

Trump signs Executive Order 14362 on November 24, 2025, kickstarting designations of MB chapters in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan as FTOs and SDGTs.
By January 2026, State Department labels Lebanese MB and leader Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh as terrorists; Treasury follows with financial sanctions.
Bipartisan congressional support aligns with Trump’s aggressive counterterrorism, building on Hamas’s long-standing FTO status as an MB offshoot.
Avoids full global MB designation due to its massive scale, focusing on specific branches to disrupt funding and operations.

Executive Order Ignites Designation Process

President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14362 on November 24, 2025. The order directs Secretaries of State and Treasury, alongside the Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence, to assess Muslim Brotherhood chapters within 30 days. Targets include branches in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan. Designations fall under Foreign Terrorist Organization rules in 8 U.S.C. 1189 and Specially Designated Global Terrorist provisions in 50 U.S.C. 1702. This move counters MB’s alleged ties to terrorism, prioritizing U.S. security and ally stability.

State and Treasury Execute Swift Designations

U.S. State Department designated Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood, known as al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah, and its Secretary General Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh as FTO and SDGT in January 2026. Treasury Department simultaneously labeled MB branches as terrorist entities. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cited the group’s longstanding terror record. Actions aim to freeze assets, impose travel bans, and sever financial lifelines. These steps fulfill the executive order’s rapid timeline.

Muslim Brotherhood’s Historical Threat Profile

The Muslim Brotherhood emerged in Egypt in 1928 as a transnational Islamist network spanning over 70 countries. It promotes political Islam and faces accusations of spawning violent offshoots like Hamas, designated FTO in 1997. U.S. policy previously sanctioned MB-linked groups but spared the core organization. Allies including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and UAE classify MB fully as terrorists. Trump’s action revives first-term efforts stalled in 2017-2021, now empowered by second-term authority.

Congressional hearings underscore MB’s global danger through terror affiliates. Bipartisan bills, like the 2025 Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act by Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), mandate similar measures. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) backs designation for MB’s Hamas support after October 7, 2023 attacks. This reflects Trump’s pattern of novel FTO expansions to Houthis, cartels, and Antifa.

Key Stakeholders Drive Counterterrorism Push

Trump initiates via executive order for national security and ally support. Bessent leads financial disruptions to shield U.S. systems. State Secretary enforces immigration and coordination. Díaz-Balart pushes to block U.S. funds enabling MB violence. Cruz highlights MB’s role in overthrowing non-Islamist regimes. Targeted chapters deny terror links, claiming political focus. Power dynamics favor U.S. executive and Congress against MB’s decentralized structure.

These designations set precedents for tackling diffuse networks. Short-term impacts include asset seizures cutting MB funding. Long-term, they bolster tools against offshoots while risking alliance strains or legal challenges. U.S. allies like Israel and Egypt gain; financial sectors face compliance burdens. Bipartisan backing strengthens Trump’s agenda, aligning with conservative priorities of decisive security measures over procedural delays.