Rubio says U.S. moving to designate Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organisation

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration is advancing work to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), confirming in a radio interview that officials are assembling the required case file under U.S. law.

The comments were made on WABC’s Sid & Friends in the Morning and reflected in a transcript posted by the State Department.

Rubio said the effort is procedurally complex because the Brotherhood operates through multiple regional branches, each of which would require its own designation. He added that any action must be built to withstand legal challenge in U.S. courts, describing the need to “show your work like a math problem” when an agency decision is reviewed by judges.

Under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1189), an FTO designation is made by the Secretary of State following interagency consultation, notification to congressional leaders, and publication in the Federal Register. The statute requires creation of an administrative record and provides for judicial review.

The interview comes amid renewed legislative activity on Capitol Hill. In the Senate, Ted Cruz introduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025 (S.2293) on 15 July. In the House, Mario Díaz-Balart introduced a counterpart bill, H.R. 4397, the same day; a separate measure, H.R. 3883, also seeks to require a designation. Sponsors say the proposals respond to the Brotherhood’s ideological alignment with Hamas, which is already on the U.S. FTO list.

Backers of a designation argue that U.S. partners have already acted. Egypt listed the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation in December 2013, followed by Saudi Arabia in March 2014 and the United Arab Emirates in November 2014. In Europe, France has not proscribed the Brotherhood at national level, though officials and parliamentary reports have examined the movement’s activities. The European Union does not list the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation.

Rubio linked the policy discussion to the wider conflict involving Hamas, repeating that any durable cessation of hostilities in Gaza would require the dismantling of the group. Coverage of his remarks noted his characterisation of recent European statements on Palestinian statehood as symbolic.

No timetable has been announced by the State Department. If the administration proceeds, each proposed listing would require a documented finding that the organisation engages in terrorism or terrorist activity and that such activity threatens U.S. nationals or national security. The Department would then notify Congress and publish the designation, after which affected entities may seek judicial review.

The legislative measures introduced in July have not advanced beyond committee referral as of today. The House bill led by Díaz-Balart has bipartisan support among initial co-sponsors; the public docket lists additional members who have since signed on. The Senate bill has Republican sponsors and has been referred to committee.

The Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, comprises a network of national movements with differing structures and tactics. U.S. officials have previously examined designation options but have often focused on specific affiliates or connected groups. The current push, as described by Rubio, would target identified branches case by case to align with statutory and evidentiary requirements.

For now, the Brotherhood’s status under U.S. law remains unchanged. Any forthcoming action would appear on the State Department’s public FTO list upon publication and would trigger the material-support prohibitions and other consequences associated with such designations.

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