Trump Administration Escalates Action Against Muslim Brotherhood
In a significant policy move with regional and international implications, the Trump administration has officially designated three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East as terrorist organizations, imposing sanctions on the groups and their members.
The decision was announced jointly by the U.S. Treasury Department and the State Department, which stated that the Muslim Brotherhood branches operating in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon pose a threat to U.S. security and national interests. According to U.S. officials, the measures are part of a broader strategy aimed at countering extremist networks and disrupting their financial and political activities.
Under the new designations, the Lebanese branch of the Muslim Brotherhood was classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) — the most severe designation under U.S. law. This classification criminalizes any form of material or financial support for the group and allows U.S. authorities to pursue legal action against individuals or entities linked to it.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department designated the Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt and Jordan as Specially Designated Global Terrorist organizations, citing their alleged support for Hamas. This designation enables the freezing of assets, the imposition of financial sanctions, and restrictions on international transactions.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the sanctions as “a first step” in curbing the Muslim Brotherhood’s activities. He emphasized that Washington would deploy all available tools to deny the group access to resources, funding, and international support networks.
The move follows an executive order signed by President Trump in November, which initiated a formal process to evaluate whether certain Muslim Brotherhood branches should be classified as foreign terrorist organizations. According to the White House, the order launched a structured review targeting specific Brotherhood branches, particularly those in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon.
As part of the process, President Trump instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to submit a detailed report assessing additional branches of the Muslim Brotherhood and recommending whether further terrorist designations should be applied within 45 days of the report’s completion.
The administration’s actions reflect a tougher stance toward the Muslim Brotherhood and signal Washington’s intent to intensify pressure on groups it considers a threat to regional stability and U.S. security interests.
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