The Trump administration designates the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations.

 

Trump and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations

The Trump administration designates the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations.

On Tuesday, the administration of US President Donald Trump designated three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East as "terrorist organizations" and imposed sanctions on them and their members.

The Treasury and State Departments announced actions taken against branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, saying they pose a threat to the United States and its interests.

The State Department designated the Lebanese branch as a "foreign terrorist organization," the most severe designation, which makes providing material support to the group a "criminal offense."

The Treasury Department designated the Egyptian and Jordanian branches as "global terrorist organizations," specifically because of their support for Hamas.

Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said that "today's sanctions against the Muslim Brotherhood are a first step to thwart their activities."

Rubio added: "We will use all tools to deprive the Brotherhood of any resources."

Last November, President Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of designating some branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign "terrorist" organizations, a move that paves the way for imposing sanctions on the targeted branches.

The White House stated that the executive order "initiates a process under which certain branches or sub-branches of the Muslim Brotherhood will be designated as foreign terrorist organizations," specifically mentioning the Brotherhood's branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Trump also directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent to submit a report on whether any branches of the Muslim Brotherhood should be designated, and asked the two secretaries to proceed with implementing any designations within 45 days of the report's release.