Trump orders review to label Muslim Brotherhood chapters 'terror'

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday launching a formal review to determine whether certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood should be designated under U.S. terrorism statutes. The directive tasks the Secretary of State and the Treasury Secretary, in consultation with the attorney general and the director of national intelligence, to submit a joint report within 30 days and to take action within 45 days if designations are warranted. The fact sheet accompanying the order singled out chapters in Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan for scrutiny.

Scope and procedure

The order uses existing authorities under U.S. law to permit either the State Department or the Treasury to place targeted chapters on the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list or the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list. If a chapter is listed, U.S. officials can impose sanctions, freeze financial channels and restrict travel and material support tied to those entities — tools Washington says are intended to disrupt alleged threats to U.S. nationals and partners.

Regional context

Analysts note the Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in the late 1920s, has long operated across the Middle East with varying legal statuses. Some governments already treat sections of the movement as illegal; others engage politically with affiliates. U.S. action targeting specific chapters could reshape diplomatic and security calculations across the region and influence relations with Türkiye, which maintains complex ties with Islamist movements and regional players.

What Washington says next

The White House framed the order as a national security measure to “disrupt networks and cut off financing” tied to groups it views as harmful to U.S. interests. Officials in the State and Treasury departments now face a tight timetable to gather intelligence, consult with legal advisers and present recommendations. Any formal designation would trigger legal processes and international repercussions, including secondary sanctions and restrictions on third-party actors that support designated groups.