Trump’s Executive Order on the Muslim Brotherhood: Implications and Reactions

In a significant policy shift, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing his administration to begin the process of formally designating certain branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. This move, which targets affiliates in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, has sparked a range of reactions both domestically and internationally.

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The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in the late 1920s, has been a contentious political entity in the Arab world. Historically, it has faced opposition from various Arab leaders, including Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. The group is often associated with political Islam and has inspired various religio-political parties across the Middle East, including Hamas, which originated as an offshoot of the Brotherhood.

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Trump's executive order aligns with the interests of key U.S. allies in the region, particularly Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, all of which view the Brotherhood as a threat to their national security. Notably, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has previously lobbied for the Brotherhood's designation as a terrorist organization. The order has also drawn criticism from various quarters, including the Muslim Brotherhood itself, which labeled it "detached from reality" and politically motivated.

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The White House has argued that the Brotherhood's branches in the targeted countries are involved in supporting violence against Israel and U.S. interests. However, critics, including Rose Kelanic from Defense Priorities, argue that the Brotherhood does not pose a direct threat to the U.S. and that the designation could complicate U.S. relations with regional partners like Turkey and Qatar, which have historically supported the Brotherhood.

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Critics of the executive order, including Congressman Gregory Meeks, have expressed concerns that it could hinder U.S. engagement with political leaders who have non-violent ties to Brotherhood-affiliated movements. The bill proposed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee to designate all groups affiliated with the Brotherhood as terrorist organizations has garnered bipartisan support, but dissenting voices warn of potential repercussions for regional stability and U.S. diplomatic relations.

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While Trump's order has received backing from pro-Israel factions in the U.S., such as Laura Loomer, who criticized the executive order for not going far enough, experts like Kristian Coates Ulrichsen note a lack of significant Gulf support for this initiative compared to Trump's first term. This reflects a shift in regional dynamics, where major powers are now more focused on stabilizing relations rather than exacerbating tensions.

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The proposed legislation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization must still pass the full House of Representatives and the Senate to become law. As the political landscape evolves, the implications of Trump's executive order and the proposed bill will likely continue to unfold, influencing U.S. foreign policy and regional alliances.

Trump orders review to designate Muslim Brotherhood branches as FTOs

• “The directive is politically motivated and lacks any credible legal or security basis,” — Muslim Brotherhood Statement

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• “The Muslim Brotherhood is not a terror threat to the US,” — Rose Kelanic, Director of Middle East Programme at Defense Priorities

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• “This just gives more things on the wishlist for the hard-right in Israel that does not want Palestinian political participation,” — Rose Kelanic

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This executive order marks a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy regarding political Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood, with potential ramifications for both domestic and international relations.

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