Sen. Ted Cruz Champions the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation ActLegislation Aims to Classify Muslim Brotherhood as a Terrorist OrganizationWASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who serves as the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global ...

Sen. Ted Cruz Champions the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act

Legislation Aims to Classify Muslim Brotherhood as a Terrorist Organization

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who serves as the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, took a significant step by introducing the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025. This pivotal legislation seeks to modernize the criteria for designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, reflecting an urgent response to evolving global threats.

Addressing National Security Concerns

In a compelling statement, Sen. Cruz asserted, “The Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization, and it provides support to its branches that engage in terrorism. One of those branches is Hamas, which on October 7 committed the worst single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, resulting in the murder and kidnapping of at least 53 Americans. They are committed to the overthrow and destruction of America and other non-Islamist governments worldwide, posing an acute threat to our national security interests. Our allies in the Middle East and Europe have recognized the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization; it is time for the United States to follow suit, and do so expeditiously.”

Support from Fellow Senators

Sen. Cruz's initiative garnered support from several prominent colleagues, including Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.).

Sen. Cotton emphasized, “The Muslim Brotherhood preaches death to Israel, the United States, and other Western governments. These statements are those of a terrorist group, and they should be labeled as such.”

Sen. Boozman added, “The Muslim Brotherhood’s terrorist actions are well documented and deeply troubling. Their historical support and financial backing of groups like Hamas, which was responsible for the October 7 attacks, illustrate their extremist ideologies that necessitate American action to protect lives, bolster our national security, and reinforce our commitment to stability in the region.”

Sen. Scott remarked, “The Muslim Brotherhood is a radical Islamist network with deep ties to extremist organizations like Hamas and the states that support them, such as Qatar and Turkey. We know these terror groups share a malevolent goal to destroy democracy, threaten our allies, and undermine America’s national security. I’m joining this urgent effort to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, which will ultimately block their access to U.S. soil and funding. We owe it to our citizens, our service members, and our allies to confront this evil head-on.”

Sen. Moody characterized the legislation as common sense, stating, “The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act will declare the Muslim Brotherhood, a group known for inciting widespread hate against Christians, Jews, and other religious groups, as a foreign terrorist organization. This group actively supports Hamas, the perpetrators of the October 7th massacre of innocent Israelis, and continues to spread violence globally. Today, we can align with our allies in Europe and the Middle East in this critical designation, and I urge its swift passage.”

House Companion Bill and Broader Support

In a parallel effort, Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL-26) introduced companion legislation in the House. He stated, “It is crucial for U.S. national security interests to prohibit American dollars from enabling the Muslim Brotherhood’s dangerous activities and to ensure that members are blocked from entering the United States. This legislation provides the Trump Administration the authority needed to protect Americans and our closest allies from this insidious threat.”

The proposed bill has gained backing from influential organizations including FDD Action, Christians United for Israel Action Fund, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Background and Ongoing Efforts

Sen. Cruz has been a longstanding advocate for designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, having introduced various versions of the Muslim Brotherhood Designation Act in 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2021. Numerous countries, including Austria, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have already classified and outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist entity.

To read the full text of the bill, click here.