Texas Governor Greg Abbott took a bold stand this week, formally declaring the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood to be foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations under a state proclamation. This is the kind of decisive leadership Americans expect when federal authorities fail to act—Abbott moved to protect Texans and to stop entities he alleges are undermining American law and values.
Abbott’s proclamation goes beyond rhetoric: it bars the groups from acquiring real property in Texas and empowers state officials to pursue legal remedies to shut down affiliated operations if necessary. Conservatives should applaud the use of state power to defend communities and property rights from organizations the governor claims have a history of troubling ties.
Make no mistake, Abbott’s move exposes a glaring federal void—neither CAIR nor the broader Muslim Brotherhood network has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, and only the federal government has the legal authority to make that determination. When Washington punts on national security and ideological threats, states are right to fill the breach, but that does not absolve the federal government of its duty to provide clarity and enforce the law.
This action did not come out of nowhere; it follows months of scrutiny in Texas over a planned Muslim-centered community near Dallas and long-standing questions raised about ties between certain individuals and organizations tied to past terrorism prosecutions. Texans deserve transparency about projects and organizations that claim community benefits but may harbor ambitions at odds with American civil society.
Unsurprisingly, CAIR reacted with outrage, calling Abbott’s proclamation defamatory and threatening legal action—yet that predictable script should not deter those who prioritize public safety and the rule of law. Conservatives must insist that accusations be met with evidence in court, but we must also insist on a higher standard of vigilance from officials who swore to defend the public.
The national media and Democratic operatives rushed to condemn Abbott, reflexively framing this as political theater and warning of backlash against American Muslims rather than addressing the substantive allegations raised. That response exposes the left’s double standard: a readiness to excuse or downplay Islamist networks when doing so aligns with their narrative of opposing Republican “fearmongering.” Conservatives will not cede national security language or common-sense scrutiny to the woke consensus.
Patriots should see Governor Abbott’s proclamation for what it is: an unapologetic defense of Texan safety and sovereignty in the face of ambiguous federal action and a complicit media class. If Washington will not act, states must act to protect their citizens—and conservatives should cheer leaders who put Americans first rather than bow to politically correct pressure.
