The radical Left thought they could hide behind civil rights rhetoric while advancing an extremist agenda.
Ron DeSantis decided enough is enough.
And DeSantis just gave radical Islamic activists their worst nightmare.
DeSantis designates CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Monday designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations, effective immediately.¹
The order directs all Florida state agencies to "undertake all lawful measures to prevent unlawful activities by these organizations, including denying privileges or resources to anyone providing material support."²
DeSantis pulled no punches in the executive order, laying out decades of evidence connecting both groups to radical Islamic terrorism.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1998156452377293228?s=20
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, has "long engaged in and supported violence, political assassinations, and terror attacks" with the goal of establishing a worldwide Islamic caliphate, according to the order.³
The order specifically noted the Muslim Brotherhood's role in creating and funding Hamas, which murdered over 1,200 people in Israel during the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack.⁴
CAIR, which claims to be America's largest Muslim civil rights organization, was founded by individuals connected to the Muslim Brotherhood in 1994.
The order cited "ample evidence" linking CAIR to terrorist organizations, including multiple individuals associated with CAIR who have been convicted of providing material support to designated terrorist groups.⁵
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier immediately backed the Governor's move.
"Great news! Thanks for this important Executive Order, Governor. We are ready to support!" Uthmeier posted on X.⁶
https://twitter.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/1998167018823139831?s=20
Texas blazed the trail Florida just followed
DeSantis' action follows Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who designated both organizations as foreign terrorist groups three weeks ago on November 18.⁷
Abbott went even further than DeSantis, also prohibiting CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas.
The Texas designation marked the first time a U.S. state independently designated American-founded organizations as terrorist entities without corresponding federal classification.⁸
CAIR immediately sued Texas over Abbott's proclamation, claiming it violated free speech, due process and property rights.
That lawsuit remains pending in federal court.
Neither CAIR nor the Muslim Brotherhood appears on the U.S. State Department's official list of foreign terrorist organizations.
But President Donald Trump ordered his administration in 2024 to begin a process for designating Muslim Brotherhood chapters as terrorist organizations, citing their support for Hamas.⁹
https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/1998197064837333479?s=20
DeSantis has made Florida a national leader in counterterrorism efforts after repeatedly warning that federal agencies under Biden abandoned their responsibilities.
In July 2024, DeSantis told the Florida Sheriffs Association he believed the United States could face a terrorist attack similar to what happened in Israel, and that state and local law enforcement needed to fill the gap left by the federal government.¹⁰
Florida's order empowers the state's Domestic Security Oversight Council to conduct a comprehensive review of existing policies and recommend additional actions for addressing threats from both organizations.
State agencies must now prevent CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, and anyone who has provided them material support from receiving contracts, employment, funds or any public benefits from the Florida government.
CAIR wasted no time threatening legal action against DeSantis, just as they did with Abbott in Texas.
The organization released a joint statement with its Florida chapter calling the designation "defamatory and unconstitutional" and vowing to sue.¹¹
"We look forward to defeating Governor DeSantis' latest Israel First stunt in a court of law, where facts matter and conspiracy theories have no weight," the statement said.¹²
CAIR accused DeSantis of prioritizing "serving the Israeli government over serving the people of Florida," pointing to the Governor holding his first official cabinet meeting in Israel.
The group has a history of attacking DeSantis for his strong support of Israel and his crackdown on anti-Israel campus activism.
When DeSantis threatened to shut down Students for Justice in Palestine chapters on Florida college campuses, CAIR sued him in federal court and forced him to back down.
https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/1998159838959067445?s=20
But DeSantis has receipts on CAIR that go back decades.
The order cited the 2009 federal case United States v. Holy Land Foundation, in which CAIR was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terrorism financing prosecution in U.S. history.¹³
Federal prosecutors presented evidence showing CAIR was part of the Palestinian Committee in the United States, established to support Hamas.
CAIR claims it condemns all terrorism, including acts by Hamas.
But the evidence tells a different story.
In the aftermath of Hamas's October 7 massacre, several CAIR leaders defended or justified the terrorist attack on Israeli civilians.
DeSantis pointed to this pattern in his order, noting that Muslim Brotherhood chapters in the Middle East "joined attacks against Israel with, or otherwise provided material support to, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Palestinian groups."¹⁴
The Governor's move sends a clear message: Florida won't provide safe harbor to organizations with ties to radical Islamic terrorism.
https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/1998235796458049799?s=20
DeSantis has consistently prioritized security over political correctness, even when facing lawsuits from groups like CAIR.
He's invested hundreds of millions in school safety, enhanced security at Jewish institutions, and made Florida a leader in counterterrorism training for law enforcement.
CAIR's threat of another lawsuit doesn't faze DeSantis.
The Governor knows Florida's security is worth fighting for, even if it means another court battle with radical activists.
This designation strips away CAIR's ability to operate with state resources while masquerading as a civil rights organization.
And it exposes the truth about an organization that has spent decades advancing the Muslim Brotherhood's agenda while hiding behind American legal protections.
¹ Louis Casiano, "Florida designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations, DeSantis says," Fox News, December 8, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Michael Costeines, "DeSantis Designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as Foreign Terrorist Organizations," The Florida Standard, December 9, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Louis Casiano, Fox News.
⁷ "Governor Abbott Designates Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR As Foreign Terrorist Organizations," Office of the Texas Governor, November 18, 2025.
⁸ "Texas Governor Designates CAIR and Muslim Brotherhood as Terrorist Organizations in Unprecedented State Action," HSToday, November 18, 2025.
⁹ Michael Costeines, The Florida Standard.
¹⁰ Mitch Perry, "DeSantis says state & local law enforcement need to step up counter-terrorism efforts in FL," Florida Phoenix, July 23, 2024.
¹¹ "BREAKING: CAIR, CAIR-Florida Tell Ron DeSantis 'See You in Court' After Unconstitutional and Defamatory 'Israel First Political Stunt'," CAIR Press Release, December 8, 2025.
¹² Ibid.
¹³ Michael Costeines, The Florida Standard.
¹⁴ Ibid.
