The Trump Administration Designates MB as a Terrorist Organization in Several Countries 

The Trump Administration officially designated the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) as a “Terrorist Organization” in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon on Tuesday. Washington stated that providing financial support to the group constitutes a “criminal offense” and that the designation is merely the first step to thwart the group’s violence and acts of intimidation. 

Furthermore, the Trump Administration fulfilled its pledge to designate three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East as “Terrorist Organizations,” going as far as to impose sanctions on them and their members, a decision that could potentially have implications in regards to US relations with its Middle Eastern allies in the coming days. 

According to the (Associated Press), the Treasury and State Departments announced on Tuesday the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a “Terrorist Organization” in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, stating that it poses a threat to the United States and its interests. 

The MB as a Foreign Terrorist Organization 

The State Department designated the Lebanese branch as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” the most severe designation, which, in consequence makes providing financial support to the group a criminal offense. As for the Jordanian and Egyptian branches, they were added to the Treasury Department’s list of designated global terrorist organizations. 

“These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart the Muslim Brotherhood chapters’ violence and destabilization wherever it occurs,” according to the statement of the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He added, “The United States will use all available tools to deprive these Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism.” 

According to the report, Rubio and Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, in adherence to an executive order issued last year, signed by Trump, outlined the most appropriate ways to impose sanctions on groups that U.S. officials believe are involved in or support campaigns of violence and destabilization that harm the United States as well as other regions. 

The report notes that the executive order issued by Trump last November specifically targeted the group’s affiliates in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. 

Nathan Brown, a professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University, said that some U.S. allies, including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, would welcome the designation. He added, “For other governments where the brotherhood is tolerated, it would be a thorn in bilateral relations.” 

Brown added that designating the group’s branches could potentially affect visa and asylum applications for people entering not only the United States, but Western European countries and Canada as well. He continued, “I believe this would give immigration officials a stronger basis for suspicion, furthermore, it might make courts less likely to question any kind of official action against Brotherhood members who are seeking to stay in this country, seeking political asylum.” 

Trump, a Republican, considered designating the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization in (2019) during his first term. Some of Trump’s prominent supporters, including the influential right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, have pressured his administration to take action against the group. As two Republican-majority states —Florida and Texas— designated the group a “Terrorist Organization” this year.