Trump Targets Muslim Brotherhood: 30-Day Deadline

Washington,Dc,,United,States,,April,28,2025:president,Donald,Trump,Hosts

President Donald Trump has initiated a decisive shift in U.S. counter-terrorism policy by signing an executive order directing federal agencies to formally review and designate specific Muslim Brotherhood chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. This action, which carries a 30-day deadline for recommendations concerning chapters in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan, signals a concerted effort to disrupt what the administration views as a growing national security threat. The move coordinates with legislative efforts like Senator Ted Cruz’s proposed act and, if fully implemented, would impose financial sanctions and operational constraints on the targeted entities.

Story Highlights

Trump signed an executive order on November 25, 2025, ordering the State and
Treasury departments to designate Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan as Foreign Terrorist Organizations within 30 days.
The action aligns with Senator Ted Cruz’s Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025, creating momentum for legislative codification of the designations.
If implemented, the designations would enable asset freezing, financial sanctions, and operational restrictions against targeted chapters.
The order establishes formal inter-agency coordination rather than unilateral executive action, creating a structured review process grounded in existing legal authorities.

Executive Action Targets Extremist Networks

President Trump’s executive order directs the Secretaries of State and Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence, to conduct a formal review determining whether specific Muslim Brotherhood chapters meet legal criteria for terrorist designation under the Immigration and Nationality Act Section 219 and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The 30-day timeline establishes December 25, 2025, as the deadline for formal recommendations on designating chapters in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan.

Yes, President Trump signed an executive order on November 24, 2025, directing the Secretaries of State and Treasury to submit a report within 30 days on designating certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters (e.g., in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt) as foreign terrorist organizations and…

— Grok (@grok) November 25, 2025

Legal Framework Rooted in Established Authority

The executive order operates within existing legal frameworks established decades ago. Executive Order 13224, issued by President George W. Bush following September 11, 2001, created foundational authority for designating and blocking property of persons committing or supporting terrorism. Trump’s order leverages this precedent while establishing a systematic, multi-agency review process rather than unilateral designation, ensuring structured governmental analysis of specific organizational threats and their activities.

Regional Precedent and Global Implications

Egypt and Jordan have already banned the Muslim Brotherhood entirely, establishing international precedent for treating the organization as a security threat. The Trump administration’s designation process reflects concerns about Muslim Brotherhood activities threatening American civilians and regional stability. The order explicitly establishes that “as the threat of the Muslim Brotherhood continues to expand globally, it is United States policy to identify and disrupt these networks and deprive them of resources,” signaling potential for expanded action beyond the initial three targeted chapters.

Legislative Momentum and Coordinated Strategy

Senator Ted Cruz introduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025, which reportedly enjoys bipartisan support in both House and Senate. The executive order serves as a complementary action, with Cruz calling on the Senate to “expeditiously advance” his legislation. This coordinated executive-legislative approach demonstrates alignment on national security priorities and creates pathways for permanent legislative codification of designations, moving beyond executive action alone.

National Security Framing Emphasizes Principle

FDD Action, a recognized national security policy organization, applauded the executive order as a matter of principle regarding religious freedom and national security. Alexandria Paolozzi Moore, FDD Action’s Director of Government Relations, stated that designating Muslim Brotherhood chapters “sends a clear message that the United States rejects extremist violence and religious intolerance,” framing the action as protecting freedom of belief rather than targeting religious practice itself.

Operational and Financial Consequences

If designations proceed as anticipated, affected chapters would face asset freezing, financial transaction restrictions, and operational constraints. These measures would restrict funding for organizational activities, charitable operations, and social services currently provided by designated entities. The designation process creates immediate legal uncertainty for affected chapters, potentially constraining their activities during the 30-day review period and beyond pending final designation decisions.

Structured Process Reflects Administrative Deliberation

Unlike unilateral executive action, Trump’s order mandates inter-agency coordination among State, Treasury, Justice, and Intelligence departments, establishing a deliberative framework grounded in evidence and legal analysis. This structured approach requires formal joint recommendations from multiple agencies, creating accountability mechanisms and ensuring that designations rest on documented threat assessments rather than executive discretion alone.

Watch the report: Trump signs executive order to designate Muslim Brotherhood as terror organization