Trump Designates Muslim Brotherhood Terrorists, Ignores Saudi Funding
The Hill reports Trump signed an executive order to designate chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. This, of course, is framed as a critical national security measure against 'radical Islamic extremism'. What The Hill 's reporting often glosses over is the rather significant fact that this push to criminalize the Muslim Brotherhood was heavily championed by Saudi
Arabia and the UAE, key US allies (and arms buyers) who view the Brotherhood as a domestic threat to their monarchical rule. The US government has a long, documented history of classifying groups based less on clear, verifiable terror acts and more on strategic geopolitical convenience, often aligning with the agendas of regional partners—partners with deep pockets to influence Washington's
foreign policy narratives. One might wonder if the concern is truly about 'terrorism,' or if it's about consolidating autocratic power in the Middle East under the guise of an ideological war. The 'war on terror' remains astoundingly selective in its targets and its funding sources.