FLORIDA – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday designated the Muslim advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organisations. The move follows a similar designation last month by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who labelled both groups as terrorist and transnational criminal organisations.
Read More: US Muslim group CAIR says Texas governor ‘stoking Anti-Muslim Hysteria
The decision also comes after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to begin the process of formally designating certain branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist entities. However, under US law, only the State Department can issue an official federal-level designation.
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Florida is designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations.
Florida agencies are hereby directed to undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by these… pic.twitter.com/2s48yYfEg7
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) December 8, 2025
According to Fox News, Florida’s designation applies only at the state level and does not carry the legal weight of a federal foreign terrorist organisation listing. Despite that, the governor’s directive calls on state agencies to take all lawful measures to prevent any alleged unlawful activity by the organisations.
This needs to happen in all 50 states!
🚨BREAKING — Govenor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida is designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations. pic.twitter.com/EIJck5gv69
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) December 8, 2025
In a post on X, Governor DeSantis wrote: “Florida is designating the Muslim Brotherhood and the CAIR as foreign terrorist organisations.” He added that Florida agencies had been instructed to deny privileges or resources to any individual or group providing material support to the designated entities.
The announcement drew an immediate and forceful response from CAIR and its Florida chapter. In a joint statement, the group called the order “defamatory and unconstitutional,” and confirmed plans to file a lawsuit challenging the decision.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis designates Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR as ‘foreign terrorist organizations’, follows Texas’ lead https://t.co/XkB5CVM9L1 pic.twitter.com/qBjVlAYjhe
— New York Post (@nypost) December 9, 2025
CAIR accused DeSantis of prioritizing foreign interests over the people of Florida, saying his actions were aimed at silencing American Muslims critical of US support for Israel. The group said it looked forward to contesting the order in court, asserting that “facts matter and conspiracy theories have no weight.”
Read More: Texas sparks outrage by Labeling muslim groups as terrorist
The statement urged Floridians and Americans nationwide to speak out against what it described as an attack on constitutional rights.