U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that his administration is finalizing a plan to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), a sweeping policy move that would place the influential Islamist movement under some of the most severe sanctions available under U.S. law. Trump said the action will be taken “in the strongest and most powerful terms,” stating that the final documents are now being prepared.
The decision represents a major shift for the United States, which has long debated how to treat the Brotherhood’s global network but has never formally declared it a terrorist entity. The prospective designation follows years of internal debate in Washington, with intelligence agencies, diplomatic officials, and counterterrorism advisers offering conflicting assessments on whether the Brotherhood’s broad international structure could, or should — be classified as a unified terrorist organization.
Founded in Egypt in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood established itself as a religious, political, and social movement advocating for Islamic governance. Over the decades, it has expanded through affiliated political parties, charities, student groups, and religious organizations. Its supporters view it as a mainstream political force; its critics say it promotes radical Islamist ideology and serves as the ideological foundation for modern jihadist movements.
Texas Escalates the Pressure With State-Level Designations
The White House announcement comes just days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued his own sweeping proclamation designating both the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations at the state level. Abbott argued that both groups work to impose Islamist rule and support extremist activity abroad, calling their alleged conduct “unacceptable in a nation governed by the rule of law.”
Under Abbott’s order, the state of Texas is now directed to identify and disrupt any activities or assets tied to the two groups. The move is unprecedented, making Texas the first state to take formal action against the Brotherhood and CAIR. CAIR condemned the designation immediately and has filed suit, arguing the policy violates constitutional rights and amounts to political retaliation rooted in anti-Muslim hostility.
Abbott’s action has intensified political attention nationally, adding pressure on the federal government to respond. Supporters of the Texas order say it highlights long-standing ideological and operational ties between the Brotherhood and extremist organizations, including Hamas which the United States has designated as a terrorist group for nearly three decades.
Growing Momentum in Congress
Momentum for a federal designation has also been building on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas have introduced legislation directing the U.S. State Department to officially label the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, arguing that the group provides both ideological and material support to violent Islamist movements around the world.
Cruz described the Brotherhood as a direct threat to the United States and its allies, saying its influence “extends far beyond the Middle East” and fuels anti-Western extremism through associated organizations and doctrinal teachings. The legislation has gained support from Republican lawmakers and a select group of Democrats who argue that U.S. national security policy has been too slow to confront the Brotherhood’s global reach.
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart and Rep. Jared Moskowitz reintroduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act, which seeks to block Brotherhood members from entering the United States and prevent U.S. dollars from funding organizations linked to the group. Moskowitz said the Brotherhood has a “documented history of promoting terrorism against the United States, our allies, and our society.”
Their bills reflect bipartisan concern over the Brotherhood’s ideology, influence, and history of supporting violent offshoots.
The State Department’s Challenge
Despite political momentum, the process of designating the Muslim Brotherhood as an FTO remains complicated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed in August that the issue has been under review, but noted substantial logistical barriers. The Brotherhood does not operate as a unified organization; it functions through dozens of national branches and local affiliates with varying levels of political, religious, and militant involvement.
Some branches participate in parliamentary elections. Others serve as social or charitable groups. And still others such as Hamas openly engage in armed conflict.
Rubio acknowledged that any designation would require careful documentation and a formal review under U.S. law, which demands intelligence-supported evidence of terrorism-related activities. A presidential executive order could bypass some of the process, but only temporarily, lasting one year without renewal.
International Precedent and Shifting Global Attitudes
Several Middle Eastern governments have already taken decisive action against the Brotherhood.
Egypt designated the group as a terrorist entity in 2013 following a deadly bombing in Mansoura. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates followed suit in 2014, citing national security concerns and the Brotherhood’s alleged efforts to undermine regional stability.
Bahrain, Jordan, Russia, and a number of other states have imposed bans or severe restrictions on the group. In Syria, membership in the Brotherhood has carried the death penalty since 1980 under longstanding anti-Islamist laws.
Europe is also experiencing a shift. French President Emmanuel Macron recently directed his government to draft measures limiting the Brotherhood’s political influence and curbing broader Islamist activism, reflecting concerns about radicalization networks and foreign-funded ideology.
Far-Reaching Implications for U.S. Policy
If finalized, Trump’s designation would represent one of the most consequential national security moves of his presidency. The decision could reshape U.S. counterterrorism policy, alter diplomatic relationships, and affect political movements in countries where Brotherhood-affiliated parties operate legally.
A federal designation would have significant impacts, including:
- Freezing assets of Brotherhood-affiliated entities under U.S. jurisdiction
- Restricting international financial activity
- Barring travel or immigration access for members or affiliates
- Creating new enforcement authorities for federal agencies
- Pressuring U.S. allies like Turkey and Qatar, which maintain close ties to Brotherhood-linked groups
Supporters argue the move is long overdue and necessary to cut off an ideological root system that has inspired groups like al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hamas. Critics warn that the designation may be overly broad, risk infringing on civil liberties, or complicate relations with Muslim communities in the United States.
For now, Trump says the paperwork is nearly complete — signaling that one of the most controversial foreign policy decisions of his administration may soon be finalized.
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