The White House has announced that President Donald Trump has signed an executive order targeting certain branches of the Muslim Brotherhood across the Middle East, directing US authorities to add them to the Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) lists. The move is part of Washington’s broader effort to counter groups alleged to support Hamas and act against American interests and allies.

Trump Directs Formal Designation Process

According to the executive order, the President tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with carrying out the necessary procedures to list Brotherhood units as FTOs and SDGTs.

The order specifically targets units operating in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, outlining that these groups could face a combination of sanctions, travel restrictions, and financial penalties once formally listed.

The White House statement emphasizes that the designation aims to address organizations that allegedly facilitated or supported attacks and destabilizing actions against US interests in the region.

References to Hamas Attacks and Regional Impact

The executive order explicitly cites the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, alleging that the Brotherhood’s military branch in Lebanon participated or supported these operations. According to the document, such activities are viewed as threats to US security and to the interests of its allies in the Middle East.

This rationale forms the basis for the inclusion of the listed units in both the FTO and SDGT registries, making their financial operations and support networks subject to stringent US regulations.

Timeline and Legal Procedures

The directive instructs the State Department and Treasury to finalize all legal and procedural steps within 30 days, after which the organizations could be officially designated as terrorist entities.

The executive order also lays the groundwork for future inclusion of other Muslim Brotherhood units operating in the region, signaling a broader US policy aimed at curbing networks alleged to support Hamas and other hostile activities.