'Muslim Brotherhood' under terror tag lens: How it operates and why Trump is targeting it again?

Dima Tahboub, member of the Muslim Brotherhood movement and former MP, speaks during a protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Amman, Jordan December 15, 2023. REUTERS/Alaa Al Sukhni

In the most recent move in US foreign and security policy, Muslim Brotherhood is once again at the centre of debate as Donald Trump’s administration launches the process of designating its chapters as “foreign terrorist organisations”. The initiative has sparked fresh interest in what the Brotherhood is, how it operates, and what the implications might be for global politics.

Who is the Muslim Brotherhood?

Founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al‑Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood began as a political and social movement that sought to promote Islamic values in the face of Western colonial rule and secular nationalism.

Over the decades it grew into a broad network of national branches and ideological affiliates across the Muslim world. While in some countries it remained legal and political, in others it was banned, suppressed or declared a terrorist organisation.

What has prompted the latest US action?

On November 24, 2025, Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of labelling certain chapters of the Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organisations and specially designated global terrorists.

The order directs the Secretary of State and the Treasury Secretary to assess chapters in countries like Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan and to move toward designation within 45 days.

The White House fact sheet stated: “President Trump is confronting the Muslim Brotherhood’s transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilisation campaigns against US interests and allies in the Middle East.”

Why is the Brotherhood controversial?

Supporters argue that the Brotherhood is a socially and politically engaged organisation that works through elections, charity, education, and community building. Critics argue that its ideology is a gateway to violence and extremist groups. One commentator wrote: “While the Brotherhood calls for a society governed by Islamic law, it renounced violence decades ago, has supported elections and has become a political and social organisation.”

Another analysis warned that outlawing the movement could risk encouraging more radical actors: “Attempts to further marginalise the Muslim Brotherhood will not only embolden militant currents within the broader Islamic movement but it will also diminish the prospects for the emergence of representative rule.”

What does the US move mean?

If designated, the US government would be able to freeze assets linked to designated Brotherhood chapters, cut off their access to US financial systems, and prosecute individuals who provide “material support”. The move would also place a clear label on parts of the Brotherhood’s network. It would signal a shift in US policy from caution to bold confrontation of Islamist movements perceived as threats. However, some experts caution that such a blanket label could complicate diplomatic ties in parts of the Middle East where national branches of the Brotherhood play roles in governance.

What are the wider implications?

For countries in the Middle East and beyond, this decision has major implications. In Egypt, the Brotherhood has been banned since 2013. In other places like Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, the organisation or its offshoots operate with varying legal status. The US designation could push these national branches to change strategies, become more covert, or shift alliances. Moreover, it raises questions about other countries with large Muslim populations and Brotherhood-linked institutions.

Why should we pay attention?

The Brotherhood’s case highlights how faith-based political movements can cross into security concerns. It shows how ideology, politics, governance and counter-terror efforts are entangled. The US move is not just about one organisation. It is about how states deal with movements that straddle the line between politics and extremism.

In short, the Trump administration’s drive to label segments of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist is a signal that the era of engaged but tolerated Islamist politics may be giving way to a more zero-tolerance stance. Whether this will lead to greater security or unintended consequences remains to be seen.