Rubio and Bessent Team Up to Bring Hammer Down on Muslim Brotherhood

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent have combined the weight of their two departments to deliver at one-two punch in designating chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt as terrorist organizations. Bessent said the move is part of the Trump administration's efforts "to curtail the pernicious influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and protect the United States and its partners from Muslim Brotherhood chapters’ support for terrorism."

In addition to the Foreign Terrorist Organization designation, Rubio revealed these chapters would also be labeled as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) and the leaders of these chapters would, too, be labeled as SGDTs. Here are more details from the official State Department announcement:

The Department of State is designating the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), and the group’s leader Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh as an SDGT. Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is designating the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood as SDGTs for providing material support to Hamas.

There are specific consequences that come with these designations, including denying members access to the U.S. financial system and "blocking all property of those designated today that are in the United States or that are in possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting business with sanctioned persons.  

Today, we are designating the Lebanese, Egyptian, and Jordanian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist groups. Under President Trump's leadership, the United States will eliminate the capabilities and operations of Muslim Brotherhood chapters that threaten U.S. citizens…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) January 13, 2026

Today, we are designating the Lebanese, Egyptian, and Jordanian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist groups. Under President Trump's leadership, the United States will eliminate the capabilities and operations of Muslim Brotherhood chapters that threaten U.S. citizens and our national security.

Bessent provided more details on the financial and monetary consequences that come with the new designation, saying, "The Muslim Brotherhood has a longstanding record of perpetrating acts of terror, and we are working aggressively to cut them off from the financial system. This Administration will deploy the full scope of its authorities to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat terrorist networks wherever they operate in order to keep Americans safe."

The Treasury Department is taking action pursuant to President Trump’s leadership by designating Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist Organizations. The Muslim Brotherhood has a longstanding record of perpetrating acts of terror, and we are working aggressively to cut them… https://t.co/suWDXuJiNN
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) January 13, 2026

The Treasury Department is taking action pursuant to President Trump’s leadership by designating Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist Organizations. The Muslim Brotherhood has a longstanding record of perpetrating acts of terror, and we are working aggressively to cut them off from the financial system. This Administration will deploy the full scope of its authorities to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat terrorist networks wherever they operate in order to keep Americans safe.

Per the Treasury Department, "all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the [Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)]. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked."

Violations of these sanctions "may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons."

DeSantis Lowers the Boom on 2 Islamist Organizations, Labels Them Foreign Terrorist Groups

The State and Treasury Departments are making these moves after President Trump signed the "Designation of Certain Muslim Brotherhood Chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specifically Designated Global Terrorists" executive order back in November. Texas and Florida have taken similar steps against the Muslim Brotherhood.

Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie about President Trump, his administration, and conservatives.

Help us continue to expose their left-wing bias by reading news you can trust. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.