President Trump has delivered a decisive blow against Islamist extremism by officially designating three Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations, fulfilling a decade-long conservative push to confront threats that the Obama administration refused to acknowledge.
Story Highlights
- Trump administration designates Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt as terrorist organizations
- Decision reverses Obama-era policy that treated the Brotherhood as a legitimate political entity
- Designations enable asset freezes and criminalize material support to these groups
- Congressional Republicans, led by Ted Cruz and Elise Stefani,k championed the move for national security
Trump Overturns Obama’s Dangerous Brotherhood Policy
On November 24, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the State and Treasury departments to designate specific Muslim Brotherhood chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
The order specifically targets Brotherhood branches in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, citing their involvement in violence, destabilization efforts, and direct threats to American citizens and allies in the Middle East.
This decisive action corrects years of misguided Obama administration policy that inexplicably treated these extremist groups as legitimate political organizations.
The phased designation process required the secretaries to submit a joint report within 30 days and implement appropriate designations within 45 days of that report.
By early 2026, the State Department officially designated the Lebanese branch as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, while Treasury listed the Jordanian and Egyptian branches as Specially Designated Global Terrorists for their documented support of Hamas terrorism.
Trump administration designates 3 Muslim Brotherhood branches as terror groups https://t.co/4dnpcuMQ3Z
— The Hill (@thehill) January 14, 2026
Congressional Patriots Champion National Security
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Representative Elise Stefanik of New York led the congressional charge to secure these vital designations. Cruz, sponsor of the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025, applauded Trump’s order as the culmination of a decade-long battle to protect American interests.
Stefanik called the designations “long overdue” for national security, emphasizing the need to codify Foreign Terrorist Organization status for all non-designated Brotherhood arms.
These Republican leaders overcame years of bureaucratic resistance from Obama-era State Department officials who inexplicably viewed the Brotherhood as a non-terrorist political party, despite clear evidence of its affiliates’ terrorism connections confirmed by former FBI Director Robert Mueller.
The congressional push dates back to 2016, when Representatives David Trott, Ron DeSantis, Darrell Issa, and Mario Diaz-Balart introduced legislation against State Department opposition.
Strategic Alignment With Allies Against Extremism
Trump’s targeted approach focuses on specific chapters rather than blanket designations, aligning America with key regional allies who have already recognized the Brotherhood’s terrorist nature.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, and Russia have all previously designated the entire Brotherhood organization as terrorists, understanding the transnational threat it poses since its 1928 founding in Egypt.
Trump administration labels 3 Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations https://t.co/ALvXF3fxwI
— Franz Peters (@franzxpeters1) January 14, 2026
The designations enable crucial counterterrorism measures, including asset freezes, transaction bans, and criminal penalties for providing material support.
This strategic coordination with regional partners strengthens America’s position in the Middle East while protecting U.S. nationals from Brotherhood-linked violence and destabilization efforts. The move sets an important precedent for broader Brotherhood scrutiny and enhances collaborative counterterrorism operations with allied nations.
Sources:
Who Is Behind the Effort to Declare the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization?
Congressional Hearing on Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation
Stefanik on Supporting President Trump Designating Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization
Muslim Brotherhood After US Terrorist Designation
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a Terrorist Organization
Foreign Terrorist Organizations
