CaliToday (09/12/2025): Governor Ron DeSantis has officially declared the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" within the state of Florida. The move marks a significant escalation in the Republican-led state security strategy, aligning closely with the aggressive national defense posture of the Trump administration.
1. The Executive Directive
Following in the footsteps of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, DeSantis announced the designation on X (formerly Twitter), ordering all Florida state agencies to sever ties with the named groups immediately.
"We must take all measures within the confines of the law to prevent the illegal activities of these organizations," DeSantis wrote.
The directive commands state institutions to deny "privileges, resources, or any form of support" to individuals or entities found to be financing or aiding these groups. This effectively freezes CAIR out of any state-level dialogue, grants, or partnerships—a tactic designed to financially and socially isolate the organization within the Sunshine State.
2. The Rationale: "A Global Caliphate"
The executive order provides a stark justification for the ban, citing national security concerns that echo the rhetoric of the Trump White House:
The Muslim Brotherhood: The order characterizes the group as historically linked to "political assassinations, violence against civilians, and a long-term goal of establishing a global caliphate."
CAIR: While ostensibly a civil rights group, the Florida administration alleges that CAIR operates as a front. The order cites federal court documents from the past that named CAIR an "unindicted co-conspirator" in Hamas funding cases. It asserts that individuals associated with CAIR have been convicted of providing material support to foreign terror networks.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier immediately endorsed the move, signaling a unified legal front from the state’s executive branch.
3. CAIR Strikes Back: "Defamation and Unconstitutional"
The reaction from CAIR was swift and furious. In a joint statement with its Florida chapter, the organization accused DeSantis of engaging in a "McCarthy-style witch hunt."
"Governor DeSantis is prioritizing the interests of the Israeli government over the constitutional rights of Florida residents," the statement read.
CAIR slammed the order as "defamatory and unconstitutional," arguing that it is a transparent attempt to silence Muslim-American voices and anyone critical of U.S. foreign policy regarding Israel. They have vowed to challenge the designation in court, framing it as a direct violation of the First Amendment right to free speech and association.
4. The Texas Precedent and Legal Reality
Florida is not acting in a vacuum. Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently enacted a similar measure, which sparked a firestorm of litigation. In Texas, interfaith coalitions have rallied behind CAIR, and lawsuits are currently pending that argue states do not have the constitutional authority to usurp the Federal Government's power to designate "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (FTOs).
The Legal Grey Zone: Legal experts note that while a state designation does not carry the same weight as a U.S. State Department FTO listing (which involves federal criminal sanctions and asset freezes), it sends a powerful political signal. It creates a hostile operating environment for these groups at the state level, effectively "deputizing" state agencies to act as national security enforcers.
Summary
This controversial move by Florida highlights a defining trend of the current political era: The Federalization of State Politics. Under the umbrella of President Trump’s renewed national security order, Republican governors are increasingly bypassing federal bureaucracy to implement their own hardline foreign policy and security measures. Whether these designations will survive the inevitable federal court challenges remains the defining legal battle of 2025.