Executive Order Signed by Trump Targets Muslim Brotherhood

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Monday that directs federal agencies to begin the process of designating foreign branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, a move that could reshape America’s counterterror strategy and reverberate across the Middle East.

The order describes the Brotherhood as “a transnational network with chapters across the Middle East and beyond,” explicitly naming its affiliates in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan as groups engaged in violence and regional destabilization. The directive comes on the heels of growing concerns about the Brotherhood’s ideological influence and its operational ties to Hamas and Hezbollah.

“In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel, the military wing of the Lebanese chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood joined Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian factions to launch multiple rocket attacks against both civilian and military targets within Israel,” the executive order states.

The order initiates a 30-day review by the State and Treasury Departments to evaluate whether specific Brotherhood branches meet the legal criteria for designation under U.S. terrorism laws. If confirmed, these groups could face asset freezes, travel restrictions, and criminal penalties for anyone found to be providing material support.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the executive action, saying, “This is an important step toward confronting a movement that has destabilized the Middle East for decades.” He noted that Israel has already outlawed parts of the Brotherhood and is advancing efforts to expand its own designations.

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, has long served as the ideological anchor for Islamist movements across the Arab world. Its influence has been especially potent in Hamas, which explicitly identifies as the Brotherhood’s Palestinian branch. Though some Brotherhood-linked entities present themselves as social or political organizations, critics argue that the group uses such fronts to radicalize, recruit, and fund militant activity.

This executive order follows a growing international trend. Several Middle Eastern nations including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt have already designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Trump’s move brings the United States into closer alignment with those allies, strengthening the broader regional coalition against Islamist extremism.

If fully implemented, the designations could severely disrupt the Brotherhood’s global fundraising and propaganda operations, while also sending a strong signal to affiliated networks operating in the West.

Israel continues to support international efforts to confront terror and dismantle the ideological structures that enable it. Share this article and subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on Israel’s security and global counterterror alliances.