play_arrow

keyboard_arrow_right

Listeners:

Top listeners:

skip_previous skip_next
00:00 00:00
playlist_play chevron_left
volume_up
  • cover play_arrow

Trump Orders Process to Designate Muslim Brotherhood Chapters as Terrorist Organizations

Background

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Monday directing the State and Treasury Departments to move toward formally designating chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations — a policy shift that would mark one of the most significant counterterror actions taken by his administration in the Middle East.

The order instructs Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to produce, within 30 days, a comprehensive report recommending whether national chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood meet the legal threshold for designation as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) or Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). The administration must then implement any approved designations within 45 days.

According to a White House fact sheet, the step reflects Trump’s determination to confront “the Muslim Brotherhood’s transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against U.S. interests and allies in the Middle East.”

The administration cites the organization’s activities in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, accusing these chapters of supporting violence, destabilizing governments, encouraging militant attacks on Israel, and providing material support to Hamas — itself an official Brotherhood offshoot.

The order highlights the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel as evidence, noting that 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.”

Netanyahu Praises Trump: “This Endangers Stability Everywhere”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly commended Trump following the announcement, saying the move aligns with Israel’s longstanding view of the Brotherhood as a global security threat.

“This is an organization that endangers stability throughout the Middle East and beyond the Middle East,” Netanyahu posted on X, adding that Israel has already outlawed parts of the group and intends to expand those measures.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel described Trump’s action as “vital,” arguing the Brotherhood is not merely a political entity but a “transnational ideological network that radicalizes youth, spreads extremist doctrine… and undermines democratic values.”

Support and Opposition Abroad

The Brotherhood — founded in Egypt in 1928 — is already banned and designated as a terrorist group in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, and Russia. Turkey and Qatar remain its strongest backers, with Turkey’s ruling AKP drawing ideological inspiration from the movement.

Previous U.S. administrations resisted designation, citing varied national structures and legal complexities. Former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper once described the Egyptian Brotherhood as a “heterogeneous” and largely nonviolent movement — a characterization he later partially walked back.

Trump vowed to proceed “in the strongest and most powerful terms,” telling Just the News that the final documents are already being drafted.

Legal Challenges Expected

Secretary Rubio acknowledged that the process will face intense legal scrutiny.

“These things are going to be challenged in court,” Rubio said. “You have to show your work like a math problem.”

Under U.S. law, a group must pose a threat to American nationals or national security to qualify for FTO designation. The administration argues that Brotherhood chapters meet that threshold through their support for violent groups targeting both Israel and U.S. partners.

State-Level Actions Already Underway

The move follows Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s designation last week of the Muslim Brotherhood — along with CAIR — as terrorist organizations within the state. CAIR has sued Texas, calling the move defamatory and vowing to continue its civil rights work.

A Long-Standing Conservative Priority

The terrorist designation effort has been championed for years by Republicans and by former Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka, who celebrated Monday’s order as a “historic” moment.

The first Trump administration initiated a similar process, but never completed it. Monday’s action signals Trump’s intent to finish a long-sought policy initiative with major diplomatic implications across the Middle East.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.


Latest News from Worthy News

Elderly Christian Acquitted In Pakistan Blasphemy Case After Two-Year Ordeal
Elderly Christian Acquitted In Pakistan Blasphemy Case After Two-Year Ordeal
Wednesday, March 18, 2026

A Pakistani court has acquitted an elderly Christian who was falsely accused of blasphemy against Islam, his defense team confirmed.

Russia Deepens Military Support to Iran Amid Escalating Conflict, WSJ Reports
Russia Deepens Military Support to Iran Amid Escalating Conflict, WSJ Reports
Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Russia has significantly expanded its intelligence sharing and military cooperation with Iran, providing satellite imagery and advanced drone technology to bolster Tehran’s ability to target U.S. forces across the Middle East, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive citing officials familiar with the matter.

Israeli Family Hit By Missile Strike Receives Aid As War With Iran Slows Immigration
Israeli Family Hit By Missile Strike Receives Aid As War With Iran Slows Immigration
Wednesday, March 18, 2026

An Israeli family devastated by a recent missile strike near the central city of Beit Shemesh, west of Jerusalem, has received financial assistance from a U.S. evangelical leader, as the ongoing war involving Iran has slowed—but not halted—the arrival of Jewish immigrants to the country.

Pastor Killed, Christians Abducted In Nigeria After Trump Warns Of More US Strikes
Pastor Killed, Christians Abducted In Nigeria After Trump Warns Of More US Strikes
Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Suspected Islamic Fulani herdsmen have killed a pastor and abducted other Christians in northwestern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, a region marked by recurring religious and ethnic tensions, despite U.S.-backed efforts to curb extremism that has killed thousands of Christians annually, Worthy News learned Tuesday.

Senate Opens Debate on SAVE America Act Amid Sharp Partisan Divide
Senate Opens Debate on SAVE America Act Amid Sharp Partisan Divide
Tuesday, March 17, 2026

The Senate voted 51–48 on Tuesday to begin debate on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, a Republican-backed bill that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and photo identification to cast a ballot.

Iran Attacks Tel Aviv, Two People Killed
Iran Attacks Tel Aviv, Two People Killed
Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Two people have been killed near Tel Aviv during what Israeli authorities describe as an Iranian missile barrage, with emergency responders saying police were dealing with “several” impact sites in and around Israel’s economic hub.

More Than 300 Iranians Apprehended By Border Patrol Under Trump
More Than 300 Iranians Apprehended By Border Patrol Under Trump
Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Since President Donald Trump has taken office, 307 Iranians who attempted to illegally enter the country have been apprehended by Border Patrol agents.

WHO WE ARE

The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.

CONTACT