U.S. Labels Three Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist Organizations

The U.S. government has officially classified three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, a decision that might have repercussions for diplomatic relations with Qatar and Turkey. This announcement was made jointly by the State Department and the Treasury Department, targeting the group’s chapters in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. Officials from the Trump administration have indicated that these groups present a threat to national security.

The State Department has identified the Lebanese wing of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, which effectively criminalizes any support offered to it. The Treasury Department has also categorized its counterparts in Jordan and Egypt as specially designated global terrorists, primarily for their affiliations with Hamas. Moreover, the Lebanese group received a special designation from the Ministry of Finance.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “These designations reflect our ongoing efforts to curb violence and destabilization wherever it arises. The U.S. intends to utilize all available resources to cut off these branches from financing that enables their terrorist activities.”

Notably, the Jordanian chapter was designated as a global terrorist organization following a total ban on the group by Jordanian authorities. Previously, Jordan had restricted the Muslim Brotherhood for about a decade while allowing the Islamic Action Front—its associated political wing—to operate, albeit with limits. It’s interesting to note that this splinter group secured several parliamentary seats in recent elections.

In November, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at evaluating the designation of “certain branches or other divisions of the Muslim Brotherhood” as foreign terrorist organizations. The order claims that these Muslim Brotherhood branches, from Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, engage in and support campaigns of violence that pose risks to their regions, U.S. citizens, and U.S. interests.

The executive order mentions that after the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood’s military wing cooperated with Hamas and Hezbollah in launching multiple rocket attacks against various targets in Israel. Similarly, the Egyptian branch reportedly encouraged violent actions against U.S. allies during the same period.

Both Florida and Texas have previously classified the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, a label that President Trump considered during his first term in 2019.