Quick reads
- President Trump signed an executive order on 24 November 2025 starting a formal review to designate some Muslim Brotherhood chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
- The order asks Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to prepare recommendations and follow statutory steps for designation.
- The White House fact sheet flags chapters in Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan as likely targets and cites alleged ties to violence and support for Hamas.
- The administration says designations would allow sanctions, criminal prosecution for material support, and tighter financial controls.
- The move revives a long-running Republican push and follows similar state-level steps such as Texas’s designation.
A targeted, fast-track review, Washington moves to single out specific Brotherhood branches rather than outlaw the whole movement
Executive order issued (Nov 24, 2025): President Trump directed senior officials to assess whether certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters should be labeled as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) or Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
Who’s responsible: Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent must prepare recommendations and complete the legal steps for possible designations.
Focus of the review: Chapters in Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan, with the White House citing alleged links to violent activity or material support to groups like Hamas.
Potential consequences: Designations would allow the U.S. to freeze assets, impose sanctions and pursue criminal charges against individuals or entities supporting the targeted chapters.
Approach: The order emphasizes a chapter-by-chapter assessment, not a blanket designation of the entire movement, noting the lack of a unified global command.
Political backdrop: The move echoes long-standing Republican demands and aligns with countries like Egypt that already label parts of the Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. Supporters call it necessary to choke off funding; critics warn it could strain diplomatic ties where Brotherhood-linked parties are part of political systems.
Administration’s justification: The White House claims Brotherhood chapters contribute to terrorism and regional destabilization. Internal deadlines have been set for the review and recommendations.
