President Donald Trump on Monday signed an Executive Order on November 24 2025, directing U.S. national security officials to begin the formal process of designating several foreign branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and “Specially Designated Global Terrorists.” According to the White House, “President Trump is confronting the Muslim Brotherhood’s transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against United States interests and allies.” It is the first time a U.S. administration has ever initiated such a step.
The order highlights branches in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan, citing their involvement in violence following the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre. Fox News reported that the Brotherhood’s Lebanese military wing “joined Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian factions to launch multiple rocket attacks against both civilian and military targets.”
What the Executive Order Does
The White House fact sheet states that the Executive Order instructs the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury to conduct a 30-day review of specific branches and determine whether they meet the criteria for terrorism designation. If the evidence is sufficient, the agencies must take action within 45 days.
The administration says the targeted branches “engage in or facilitate and support violence and destabilization campaigns” that endanger U.S. citizens and allies.
Al Jazeera, which opposes the move, nevertheless confirmed the rationale, noting that “the branches in Lebanon and Jordan provided ‘material support to Hamas and Hezbollah’ during the war,” and that an Egyptian Brotherhood figure “called for violent attacks against United States partners and interests.”
Reactions in the U.S.
The order does not mention any American Muslim organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Still, some activists framed the announcement as a broad attack. Medea Benjamin called it “a blatant attack on Muslims,” despite the order applying only to foreign branches identified for involvement in violent activity.
The debate has taken shape after Texas Governor Greg Abbott designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as terrorist and criminal organizations at the state level on November 18. CAIR has said it will challenge the Texas designation in court.
Supporters: A First Step With Room to Expand
Conservative analysts say the order is a long-requested move to confront violent Brotherhood-linked networks in the Middle East. They point out that the document’s phrasing — targeting branches “such as” those in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan — leaves the door open for broader designations once the intelligence review is complete, including branches based in Qatar or Turkey.
What Happens Next
The Executive Order sets in motion a multi-week evaluation that could lead to the first U.S. terrorism designations of any Muslim Brotherhood branch. If confirmed, the designations would criminalize material support, restrict travel, and impose financial sanctions.
Officials say more branches could be added after the initial review is finished.
