“They Threaten US Interests”: Trump Targets Muslim Brotherhood Chapters as Terrorist Groups

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday. It starts the process of labeling certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as foreign terrorist organizations. The order targets branches in Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan. Officials say these chapters engage in violence and destabilization that harm their regions and US interests.

The Muslim Brotherhood is a pan-Islamist group founded in Egypt in 1928 by schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna. He wanted to revive Islamic principles to resist Western influence. Over the years, the group spread across the Arab world. It gained political power in some countries but faced accusations of links to violence.

The order allows the US to take action. Authorities can freeze assets in the United States and block entry to members. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will complete the process. The aim is to officially outlaw the targeted branches.

Several countries already ban the Brotherhood. Egypt outlawed it in 2013 after the military removed former president Mohamed Morsi. Saudi Arabia considers the group a terrorist organization. Jordan banned it in April 2025, accusing it of making weapons and plotting to destabilize the kingdom. Despite the ban, the group remains popular in Jordan. It continued operating even after a 2020 court ruling dissolved it.

The US move drew praise from allies. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said, “This is an important decision not only for Israel but also for neighboring Arab countries that have suffered from Muslim Brotherhood terrorism for decades.” In France, President Emmanuel Macron asked the government to prepare measures to limit the Brotherhood’s influence.

Washington says the action targets key chapters. The goal is to curb the group’s reach. It also sends a warning: involvement in violence carries consequences. The move shows the US commitment to monitor Islamist groups and protect national and regional security.