U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order to begin the process of designating several branches of the Muslim Brotherhood, including those in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, as 'foreign terrorist organizations' and 'specially designated global terrorists.' From the White House, it was stated that 'President Trump is confronting the transnational network of the Muslim Brotherhood, which fuels campaigns of terrorism and destabilization against the interests of the United States and its allies in the Middle East,' according to the Argentine News Agency. According to the order, the military wing of the Lebanese chapter joined Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian factions to launch multiple rocket attacks against Israel following the October 7, 2023 assault, while a high-ranking Egyptian Brotherhood leader called for attacks against U.S. partners. He also accused Jordanian Brotherhood leaders of having provided material support to Hamas for years, reported Xinhua news agency. 'It is the policy of the United States to cooperate with its regional partners to eliminate the capabilities and operations of the designated Muslim Brotherhood chapters as foreign terrorist organizations,' the order states. Now, the Secretaries of State and the Treasury must submit a joint report to Trump within 30 days recommending which chapters of the organization should be designated. Final actions on the designations must be taken within 45 days of the report's submission.
