The Trump administration has labeled three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations and imposed sanctions to counter the group's activities. The Lebanese branch received the strictest classification as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, while the Jordanian and Egyptian branches were named global terrorist entities due to their ties to Hamas. This action follows an executive order signed by President Trump in November.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration took significant steps against the Muslim Brotherhood by designating its Lebanese, Jordanian, and Egyptian branches as terrorist organizations. The Lebanese branch was specifically classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, making any material support to it illegal under U.S. federal law. The other two branches were identified as global terrorist entities primarily for their support of Hamas, which the United States already recognizes as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the move in a statement: “These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood chapters’ violence and destabilization wherever it occurs. The United States will use all available tools to deprive these Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism.”
This decision builds on an executive order President Trump signed in November, which laid the groundwork for such classifications. Trump noted at the time that “final documents are being drawn” to ensure the designations were “done in the strongest and most powerful terms.” The order highlighted specific threats: the Lebanese branch's involvement with Hamas, Hezbollah, and other groups in launching rockets at Israeli civilians and military targets; the Egyptian branch's calls for “violent attacks against United States partners and interests”; and the Jordanian branch's leaders providing “material support to the militant wing of Hamas.” It further stated that “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 designations come amid state-level actions in late 2025, when Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis labeled the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations. CAIR, which describes itself as the largest Muslim civil rights group in the U.S., sued both states, denying any support for terrorism and accusing DeSantis of prioritizing Israel. Abbott urged the federal government to revoke CAIR's tax-exempt status, citing investigations that link it to the Muslim Brotherhood as a “front group” for Hamas and a report alleging CAIR funded student disruptions celebrating Hamas's October 7 attack.
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna—who advocated jihad as “an obligation from Allah”—was banned in Egypt in 2013 and in Jordan in April 2025.
