Trump begins process of labeling Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon as terrorist

WASHINGTON – 25 November 2025: US President Donald Trump on Monday initiated a formal review that could lead to the designation of several Muslim Brotherhood chapters in the Middle East as foreign terrorist organizations.

Trump signed an executive order instructing the secretaries of state and treasury to deliver a joint report on this matter within 30 days, according to a White House fact sheet.

The report, which will be issued in coordination with the attorney general and the director of national intelligence, will recommend whether branches of the movement in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon should be added to the US terrorism list.

Any designations would be expected within 45 days after the report is submitted.

The White House said the targeted chapters “engage in or facilitate and support violence and destabilization campaigns that harm their own regions, United States citizens, and United States interests.”

According to the fact sheet, a senior figure in the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood “called for violent attacks against United States partners and interests” on October 7, 2023, the day Hamas launched its attack on Israel.

It also said the Lebanese chapter’s armed wing joined Hamas, Hezbollah and other Palestinian groups in firing rockets at Israeli military and civilian areas after the attack.

The White House further accused Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood leaders of providing long-standing material support to Hamas.

“Such activities threaten the security of American civilians in the Levant and other parts of the Middle East, as well as the safety and stability of our regional partners,” the statement said.

The potential federal designation would carry significant legal implications for the organization and its affiliates in the United States, restricting financial transactions and broadening law enforcement powers.

Global Moves Against MB

Egypt and several other countries, including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, already classify the Muslim Brotherhood as a banned organization.

In Egypt, numerous top leaders of the group have been convicted of violent and terrorist offenses over the past decade, with some receiving death sentences on charges ranging from murder to other acts of terrorism.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron in October has called on his government to step up efforts against the spread of political Islamism within French institutions, following the release of a report detailing the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood on community organizations and public discourse.

Jordan in October issued sentences in high-profile cases against Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated individuals, citing threats to national security and involvement in terrorism-related activities.

Last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott designated both the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations.