U.S. Confirms Push to Designate Muslim Brotherhood as Foreign Terrorist Organization - Faith & Freedom News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a move that could significantly reshape U.S. foreign policy and counterterrorism efforts, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the Trump administration is actively pursuing the formal designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Speaking on Sid & Friends in the Morning on Tuesday, August 12, Rubio stated that the process is well underway, reflecting strong endorsement from Republican lawmakers and key Middle East allies.

When asked specifically about the potential designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its connection to the Brotherhood, Rubio responded, “All of that is in the works,” noting that different branches of the group would need to be designated individually due to the complex legal process required to withstand judicial scrutiny. The Secretary of State cautioned that while the administration is prepared to act, any designation would be challenged in court, necessitating meticulous documentation. “You have to show your work like a math problem when you go before court,” he stated, highlighting the administrative rigor required to overcome potential nationwide injunctions.

Legislative Momentum and Global Context

The administration’s announcement follows heightened legislative action on Capitol Hill. In July 2025, Republican Senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, John Boozman, Rick Scott, Ashley Moody, and Dave McCormick introduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025. The bill highlights the Brotherhood’s links to Hamas, an organization already designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. A bipartisan companion bill was also introduced in the House of Representatives, supported by Democrats Jared Moskowitz, Tom Suozzi, and Josh Gottheimer, alongside their GOP colleagues.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which was founded in Egypt in 1928, has long faced criticism for its blend of radical Islamist ideologies with fascist influences and antisemitism. The organization has been accused of advocating for violent jihad against secular or non-Islamist governments and promoting opposition to Christians. This has led several nations to already designate it as a terrorist group, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Russia, and Jordan. In 2025, Jordan officially outlawed the Brotherhood after foiling a terrorist plot involving its operatives.

Legal Mechanisms and Implications

According to legal experts, an FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization) designation under U.S. law requires the group to be foreign, engage in terrorist activity, and pose a threat to U.S. national security. The State Department must build a robust administrative record, coordinate with agencies like the Departments of Justice and Treasury, notify Congress, and publish the designation in the Federal Register. A designated group has 30 days to challenge the listing via judicial review in the D.C. Circuit.

U.S. officials may also utilize parallel financial tools, such as the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) mechanism through the Treasury’s OFAC program, to freeze assets and restrict financial activity even before a final FTO status is finalized.

Should the designation process move forward, affected entities could face asset freezes, visa and travel bans, and restrictions on U.S.–based affiliates. While the outcome remains uncertain due to expected judicial challenges, the administration’s move signals a firm policy shift, reflecting a broader effort to confront extremist groups globally. This comes on the heels of the recent delisting of Syria’s Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as an FTO, a move that also reflected a broader counterterrorism policy adjustment by the Trump administration.

The growing bipartisan support for the designation in Congress, combined with strong pressure from conservative media, has heightened pressure on the administration to act on what many see as a crucial step to protect U.S. national security.