President Trump has signed an executive order starting a formal review to label certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist entities, citing violence tied to the group and directing State and Treasury to act quickly. The order invokes immigration and emergency economic powers, kicks off a 30-day probe focused on chapters in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, and lays out potential steps like freezing assets and banning support. Officials and researchers have warned about the Brotherhood’s growing reach, and the move follows state-level actions and a lengthy study highlighting concerns about influence. Supporters see this as decisive national security action; opponents will argue the policy, but the review is now in motion.
The president used his executive authority to target a transnational network that, according to the order, has evolved from its 1928 origins into a violent and destabilizing force. “The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, has developed into a transnational network with chapters across the Middle East and beyond,” the order reads. It singles out specific chapters whose activity, the administration says, crosses the line into supporting or facilitating violence against civilians and partners of the United States.
The directive relies on the Immigration and Nationality Act and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to give the administration legal tools to act. A 30-day review, led by the State and Treasury Departments, will look at concrete designations for the Brotherhood’s chapters in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. If designated, those entities could face frozen assets, travel bans, and criminal penalties for offering material support to listed groups.
The executive order details violent incidents linked to chapters of the network, including coordinated rocket attacks after the October 7, 2023 assault in Israel. “For example, in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel, the military wing of the Lebanese chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood joined Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian factions to launch multiple rocket attacks against both civilian and military targets within Israel,” the order continues. It also cites public calls for violence and long-standing material support ties tied to leadership in other chapters.
“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 order noted. That language frames the designation as not just symbolic but aimed at protecting Americans and allies from transnational threats. Supporters argue that formal designation gives prosecutors and agencies the leverage needed to cut funding and movement for violent networks.
The president signaled the intent publicly before the order was finalized, promising decisive action and tight language. “It will be done in the strongest and most powerful terms,” Trump told Just the News over the weekend. “Final documents are being drawn.” Those comments underscored that the administration sees this as a high-priority national security step rather than a routine bureaucratic move.
Recent developments at the state level and new research helped push the federal effort forward, including a comprehensive study warning of the Brotherhood’s influence. The report describes outreach into government, civil rights spheres, educational institutions, and social media platforms, and it alleges long-term attempts at infiltration into agencies and advisory roles. Those findings have been used by advocates to make the case that designation is overdue and necessary to prevent further encroachment.
On the political front, the action will rally supporters who favor a hardline approach to Islamist networks and who want clear mechanisms to counter foreign influence. It also creates a legal and diplomatic process that other countries and agencies will watch closely during the 30-day review. Critics will challenge definitions, evidence, and potential impacts on civil liberties and diplomacy, but the administration is moving forward with a formal path to designation.
Experts and advocacy groups reacted quickly, with some praising the move as overdue and others urging caution about the legal and operational fallout. “We welcome President Trump’s statements and the growing recognition that the Muslim Brotherhood, its ideology and network pose a serious challenge to the United States and democratic societies,” Charles Asher Small, executive director of ISGAP, said in a press release after Trump’s interview with Just the News. The review now proceeds on a compressed timeline, leaving little ambiguity about the administration’s priority: use the available authorities to clamp down on what it views as a dangerous transnational threat.
