Ted Cruz Targets Muslim Brotherhood: “Hamas Is Just the Start”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) introduced legislation on Tuesday to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), marking his fifth attempt to secure the label for the global Islamist movement. The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025, backed by several Republican senators and pro-Israel groups, seeks to impose sweeping sanctions on the group, which Cruz accuses of supporting terrorist affiliates like Hamas.

The bill, introduced on Tuesday, directs the State Department to catalog Muslim Brotherhood branches worldwide, identifying those already designated as terrorist groups and others meeting FTO criteria. Unlike Cruz’s previous efforts in 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2021, which stalled due to the group’s mixed record of political and violent activities, the 2025 legislation adopts a “bottom-up” approach. It mirrors the Trump administration’s 2017 strategy to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as an FTO, aiming to overcome legal hurdles by focusing on the Brotherhood’s support for violent offshoots.

Cruz, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, framed the bill as a response to the Muslim Brotherhood’s ties to Hamas, which carried out the October 7, 2023, attack that killed over 1,200 people, including at least 53 Americans. “The Muslim Brotherhood supports terrorists who murdered Americans and our allies,” Cruz said, citing the group’s stated goal of establishing a global Islamic caliphate. The bill enjoys support from Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and others, as well as endorsements from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Christians United for Israel, and FDD Action.

Founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, the Muslim Brotherhood has long promoted Islamic governance, often through political means, but its ties to groups like Hamas have fueled controversy. Countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and, as of April 2025, Jordan have banned the organization, labeling it a terrorist group. The bill’s supporters argue that a U.S. designation would align with these allies and disrupt the Brotherhood’s ability to fund terrorist activities through sanctions, including a ban on financial transactions with Americans and criminal penalties for support.

If passed, the legislation would require the State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to submit a report within 90 days detailing all Muslim Brotherhood branches. It outlines three designation pathways: congressional action under the 1987 Anti-Terrorism Act, State Department FTO recognition, or listing as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. A designation would impose a minimum four-year sanction period, restricting the group’s operations globally.

Critics, including some Middle East analysts, warn that the bill’s broad approach risks oversimplifying the Brotherhood’s complex structure, which includes non-violent political and social branches. Lorenzo Vidino, a scholar of political Islam, has argued that targeting the group’s funding or exposing its agenda might be more effective than an FTO label, which could alienate moderate Muslims and strain ties with allies like Qatar and Turkey, where the Brotherhood maintains influence. Others caution that the designation could embolden authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent under the guise of counterterrorism.

Public sentiment remains divided. Supporters view the bill as a critical step to counter radical Islamic terrorism, while skeptics question its potential to inflame tensions or infringe on free speech. Cruz expressed doubts about Democratic support but said a floor vote would clarify lawmakers’ positions.

As the bill moves forward, its success hinges on navigating the Brotherhood’s multifaceted nature and the broader implications of labeling a global movement with deep roots in the Middle East. The full text of the legislation is available on Cruz’s Senate website.