The Real Battle Over Labeling the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization

Momentum is building behind efforts to convince the Trump Administration to formally designate the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), a move Texas has already embraced at the state level. Republican lawmakers, several Democrats, and key policy institutes are all pressing for federal action.

Texas Moves First

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced this week that he had designated both the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as “foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations,” barring members from purchasing land in the state.

CAIR immediately denied the allegations and filed a lawsuit, claiming the proclamation violates constitutional rights and relies on false statements. “Greg Abbott is an ‘Israel First’ politician,” CAIR said, accusing the governor of fueling anti-Muslim hysteria.

Abbott later directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to launch criminal investigations into both organizations, saying Texas would target “violence, intimidation, harassment, and unlawful attempts to impose Sharia law.”

Federal Push Renewed

The first Trump Administration considered designating the MB as an FTO but never finalized the move. The second Trump Administration has again signaled interest, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying in August that the designation is “in the works” but requires careful review given the Brotherhood’s many branches.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers are also pushing legislation. Sen. Ted Cruz and colleagues introduced a bill in July urging the MB’s designation, citing the group’s ideological ties to Hamas and other extremist movements. Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart and Jared Moskowitz reintroduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act, calling it a modern strategy to address the group’s global networks.

CAIR Responds Forcefully

In addition to its lawsuit, CAIR condemned Abbott’s actions as defamatory and politically motivated. “We are not and will not be intimidated,” the organization said, arguing the state’s actions target American Muslims for their political views.

Global Treatment of the Brotherhood

Numerous Middle Eastern governments—including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain—have already banned or designated the MB as a terrorist organization. The Brotherhood has pushed back, insisting it is committed to peaceful activism and public service.

Historical Context

Founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood has long advocated for an Islamic state governed by sharia law. The movement inspired later extremist thinkers, most notably Sayyid Qutb, whose writings influenced al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Multiple jihadist groups emerged out of Brotherhood ideology, including Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hamas, the latter widely considered a formal offshoot of the MB.

Expert Assessments

Major think tanks have issued repeated warnings about the Brotherhood’s influence:

• A leaked French Interior Ministry report described the MB’s strategy in Europe as infiltrating civil society under the guise of religious and educational programs.

• The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy says the Brotherhood provides the ideological foundation for ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Hamas.

• The Foundation for Defense of Democracies calls the MB “a gateway to terrorism,” arguing the group nurtures the ideology that leads some members toward violent splinter groups.

Recent FDD analysis maps the Brotherhood’s operations across the Middle East and outlines which branches merit U.S. designation.

Emerging Relevance in U.S. Politics

The Brotherhood has also appeared in discussions surrounding New York’s political landscape. A previous review found that mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani maintained a long association with activist Linda Sarsour, a vocal critic of Israel who once joked dismissively about fears of an MB takeover in Egypt.

Mamdani spent time in Cairo during the Brotherhood’s brief rule and wrote critically about both the MB and the Egyptian military in 2013. He met with President Trump at the White House on Friday as the administration weighs the FTO designation.

Where Things Stand

The Trump Administration has not yet designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization. But mounting political pressure—from state-level actions, bipartisan proposals in Congress, and renewed scrutiny of the Brotherhood’s global activities—suggests the issue is quickly moving back to the forefront of U.S. national security debates.

Further Reading:

• “A More Effective Approach to Countering the Muslim Brotherhood” — The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
  Read here
  Analysis of how U.S. policy might address the wider network of the Muslim Brotherhood and the challenges around designation. The Washington Institute

• “New Report Sheds Light on Muslim Brotherhood Terror Ties” — Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).
  Read here
  *A recent memo mapping the Brotherhood’s funding, leadership and activity that supports arguments for designation. fddaction.org

• “What Does It Mean to Designate the Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization?” — Brennan Center for Justice.
  Read here
  *Legal and civil-rights perspective on implications of such a designation in the U.S. context. Brennan Center for Justice

• “Nine Reasons Why Declaring the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization Would Be a Mistake” — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
  Read here
  *A critical view that outlines potential risks and unintended consequences of broad designation.

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