The United States government has officially designated Muslim Brotherhood organizations in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as terrorist groups, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s approach toward groups it views as hostile to Israeli interests.

The decision follows an executive order by President Donald Trump in November 2025, instructing his administration to begin the process of blacklisting the Muslim Brotherhood’s branches in these countries.

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US Government Justification

The US Department of the Treasury labeled the Egyptian and Jordanian branches as “specially designated global terrorists”, while the State Department issued the “foreign terrorist organization” (FTO) label for the Lebanese branch.

According to the Treasury, these groups allegedly:

• Provide support to Hamas
• Engage in activities targeting Israeli interests in the Middle East
• Claim to operate as legitimate civic organizations while secretly supporting terrorism

“Chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood purport to be legitimate civic organisations while, behind the scenes, they explicitly and enthusiastically support terrorist groups like Hamas,” the Treasury stated.

The FTO designation carries stricter consequences, including:

• Criminalizing material support to the groups
• Freezing assets under US jurisdiction
• Banning members from entering the United States

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Muslim Brotherhood’s Response

The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, through acting general guide Salah Abdel Haq, rejected the US designation, vowing to pursue all legal avenues to challenge the decision.

“We deny all allegations that the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has directed, funded, provided material support for or engaged in terrorism,” Abdel Haq told Al Jazeera.
“This designation is unsupported by credible evidence and reflects external foreign pressure by the UAE and Israel rather than an objective assessment of US interests or facts on the ground.”

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Background on the Muslim Brotherhood

Founded in 1928 by Egyptian scholar Hassan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood has grown into a regional network with branches in the Middle East, encompassing political parties, social organizations, and civic groups.

• Egypt: Won the country’s first democratic presidential election in 2012 with Mohamed Morsi, who was overthrown a year later in a military coup. Since 2013, the group has been banned, with leaders either jailed or exiled.
• Lebanon: Known as al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, the group operates legally and holds seats in Parliament. It recently supported Hezbollah politically in solidarity with Gaza during Israel’s 2024 offensive.
• Jordan: The Muslim Brotherhood won 31 parliamentary seats in the 2024 elections through its political arm, the Islamic Action Front, but was banned in 2025 over alleged links to a sabotage plot.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the US designation, calling it a “pivotal step” and warning that the group’s extremist ideology posed a threat to regional and international security.

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Political and Regional Implications

Analysts suggest the designation was influenced by pressure from Israel and the UAE on Washington. The move intensifies the US’s crackdown on groups seen as aligned with Palestinian resistance movements, particularly Hamas.

The Lebanese branch stated that the US decision has no legal effect within Lebanon, emphasizing that the group operates legally under Lebanese law.

“This move is a political and administrative American decision, not based on any Lebanese or international judicial ruling, and serves the interests of the Israeli occupation,” the group said.

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Impact in the United States

The designation also reverberated in the US, where right-wing activists have for years targeted Muslim communities and Israel critics, accusing them of links to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Following the US executive order:

• Republican governors in Texas and Florida also blacklisted the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) alongside the Muslim Brotherhood.
• CAIR, which denies any formal links to the Brotherhood, has filed lawsuits challenging these designations.

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Why This Matters

• Regional security: The US considers these branches a threat due to alleged ties to Hamas and anti-Israel activity.
• Diplomatic impact: The designation may strain US relations with Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, particularly with groups legally active within their countries.
• Domestic implications: The decision reinforces political divides in the US, where civil rights groups claim discrimination against Muslim communities.