President Donald Trump directed his administration Monday to designate Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organization, targeting active branches in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan.
Move stems from accusations Brotherhood supports Hamas, Palestinian militant group, and directs actions against United States plus allies.
Trump claimed Brotherhood supplies military aid to Hamas. He also charged Egyptian branch leaders with urging violent strikes on U.S. and partners.
“President Trump is confronting the Muslim Brotherhood’s transnational network, which fuels terrorism and destabilization campaigns against US interests and allies in the Middle East,” the White House said.
Directive activates 45 days after agency probe report submission. A formal “foreign terrorist organisation” label would then officially apply to the Muslim Brotherhood branches within 45 days after the report.
“It’s very amateurish foreign policy, but it appeals to the right-wing zealots in the US and Israel,” said Rami Khouri, a distinguished fellow at the American University of Beirut.
He noted that the order comes as the US tries “desperately to make progress” on the ceasefire in Gaza, which “the Israelis largely ignore, and Hamas largely adheres to”.
The White House wants to “keep showing that the Trump administration is doing everything it can to fight terrorism and bring peace and a happy, good life for all. This is, of course, fantasy,” Khouri said from the US city of Boston.
“I don’t think many people take it seriously. It’s not aimed at the Middle East. It’s aimed at domestic television audiences in the US and donors who provide the Republican Party with support, and the Republican Party is haemorrhaging support now because of its various and ineffective policies,” he added.
