President signs executive order for Rubio and Bessent to submit report on chapters in Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Donald Trump<\/a> on Monday began the process of designating certain Muslim Brotherhood<\/a> chapters as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists, a move that would bring sanctions against one of the Arab world\u2019s oldest and most influential Islamist movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump signed an executive order directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio<\/a> and treasury secretary Scott Bessent to submit a report on whether to designate any Muslim Brotherhood chapters, such as those in Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan, according to a White House fact sheet. It orders the secretaries to move forward with any designations within 45 days of the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Trump administration<\/a> has accused Muslim Brotherhood factions in those countries of supporting or encouraging violent attacks against Israel and US partners, or of providing material support to Palestinian militant group Hamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPresident Trump is confronting the Muslim Brotherhood\u2019s transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against US interests and allies in the Middle East,\u201d according to a White House fact sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Brotherhood was founded in Egypt<\/a> in the 1920s as an Islamic political movement to counter the spread of secular and nationalist ideas. It swiftly spread through Muslim countries, becoming a major player but often operating in secret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Republicans and right-wing voices have long advocated for and considered terrorist designations for the Muslim Brotherhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump mounted a similar effort during his first term. Months after his second term began, Rubio said the Trump administration<\/a> was working to designate the movement as a terrorist organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas Governor Greg Abbott, also a Republican, last week imposed the same designation on the Muslim Brotherhood at a state level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n