In a significant foreign policy move, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin designating specific chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organisations.
What is the Muslim Brotherhood?
The Muslim Brotherhood is one of the Arab world's oldest and most influential Islamist movements. Founded in Egypt in 1928 by schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna, it emerged as an Islamic political movement aimed at countering the spread of secular and nationalist ideas. Al-Banna believed that reviving Islamic principles in society would enable the Muslim world to resist Western colonialism.
The organisation rapidly expanded across Muslim nations, often operating secretly while becoming a major political player. Today, it faces bans in several countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and more recently, Jordan, which outlawed the group in April 2025 despite its continued popularity there.
Global Crackdown on the Brotherhood
The Egyptian government banned the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 following the military coup that overthrew the group's leader and then-president, Mohamed Morsi. The coup was led by then military chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has governed Egypt since and forged a crucial alliance with Washington.
This US action follows similar moves by other Western nations. In May 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron ordered his government to develop proposals to counter the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and political Islam within France.
Implications of the US Designation
By initiating the process to label certain Muslim Brotherhood chapters as foreign terrorist organisations and specially-designated global terrorists, the Trump administration paves the way for sanctions against the movement. This decision marks a substantial escalation in the international stance toward one of the most enduring Islamist groups, potentially affecting its operations and supporters worldwide.
