Washington, D.C. – In a decisive development for U.S. national security and pro-Israel advocacy, members of Congress are renewing efforts to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). This bipartisan push follows President Donald Trump’s recent Middle East visit, during which key Arab allies, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, urged the United States to take firm action against the Islamist group.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a long-time proponent of this designation, announced plans to reintroduce an updated version of the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act, a bill he has championed throughout his Senate career. Cruz emphasized that the Muslim Brotherhood “used the Biden administration to consolidate and deepen their influence,” but now “the Trump administration and Republican Congress can no longer afford to avoid the threat they pose to Americans and American national security.”
Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida) also sent a letter to President Trump urging a comprehensive investigation into the Muslim Brotherhood’s activities in the U.S. Moskowitz highlighted that several close U.S. allies have already designated the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, noting that such a move would “enhance the ability of U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies to disrupt financial networks and recruitment activities connected to its affiliates.”
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt, has a well-documented history of promoting extremist ideologies and has been designated a terrorist group by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain. Its affiliate, Hamas, is internationally recognized as a terrorist organization responsible for countless attacks against Israeli civilians, including the horrific October 7, 2023, massacre, the deadliest single-day attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
The recent firebombing attack in Boulder, Colorado, by Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who reportedly expressed support for the Muslim Brotherhood, has further galvanized congressional resolve. Soliman’s violent assault on pro-Israel demonstrators, including Holocaust survivors, underscores the tangible threat posed by Brotherhood-linked extremism on American soil.
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization would empower U.S. agencies to more effectively combat the group’s global network, cutting off funding streams and recruitment pipelines that fuel violence and antisemitism. It would also send a strong message of solidarity with Israel and America’s Arab allies, who have long battled Brotherhood influence.
Critics of the designation argue that such a move could complicate diplomatic relations or backfire by driving the group underground. However, experts like Hussain Abdul-Hussain of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies affirm that the Brotherhood is “an anti-Western, antisemitic, racist organization that is a threat to U.S. national security.”
With bipartisan support growing and the backing of key Middle Eastern partners, the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization represents a critical step in safeguarding American and Israeli security interests. It is a clear affirmation that the fight against Islamist extremism is central to the defense of democratic values and the protection of Jewish communities worldwide.
This article is based on verified information from reputable news sources, including Jewish News Syndicate, News4SanAntonio, Al Arabiya, The Algemeiner, Washington Free Beacon, Jewish Insider, The Hill, and The New York Times.