Trump Orders Review to Potentially Label Muslim Brotherhood chapters as Terrorist Group

US President Donald Trump has directed senior officials to investigate whether several chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood should be designated as terrorist organisations — a move that could trigger sweeping economic and travel sanctions.

Under an executive order issued on Monday, Trump instructed his national security team to examine the activities of Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, and assess whether they meet the criteria for classification as Foreign Terrorist Organizations or Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

The order cites alleged links between the Brotherhood and Hamas, as well as what it describes as “destabilization campaigns that harm their own regions, United States citizens, and United States interests.”

Top Officials Assigned to Lead the Review

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have been tasked with leading the review. They are required to consult with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and submit a full report within 30 days.

If the investigation concludes that the groups meet the criteria, the administration would have 45 days to impose sanctions. These measures could make it illegal for anyone to provide material support to the Brotherhood and prevent its members from entering the United States.

“President Trump is confronting the Muslim Brotherhood’s transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against US interests and allies in the Middle East,” the White House said in a statement.

State-Level Moves Intensify Pressure

The federal review follows a move last week by the Governor of Texas, who designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organisation. The state’s order also applied the same label to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the country’s largest Muslim civil rights organisation, banning both groups from purchasing land in Texas.

A Controversial Organisation With Global Branches

Founded in Egypt nearly a century ago, the Muslim Brotherhood is one of the most influential Islamist organisations in the region. Its branches differ in ideology and operations, with some accused of attempting to establish governance systems based on Islamic law, or Sharia.

The group is banned in Egypt and Jordan, as well as in several other Arab nations that regard it as a security threat. Trump previously considered a similar designation during his first term after meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi.

In April, Jordan outlawed the Brotherhood after arresting members accused of planning rocket and drone attacks.