The Obama administration will likely meet with Muslim Brotherhood officials in the future, even though the administration opted against doing so this week, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on Friday.
A Muslim Brotherhood delegation is in the United States this week, but no one from either the State Department nor the White House is meeting with the delegation, he said.
A reporter asked Friday if that mean the Obama administration has decided to cut ties with the organization.
“No,” Earnest responded.
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“There has been no change in our policy with respect to the Muslim Brotherhood,” Earnest added. “The Obama administration and the United States routinely engage with representatives from across the political spectrum in all countries around the world.”
“Members of the Obama administration in the past have met with Muslim Brotherhood representatives, including as recently as earlier this year,” Earnest continued. “It is true that no one from the White House or the administration met with the current delegation. But that does not reflect any change in our policy toward the Muslim brotherhood.”
Pressed on why the administration opted against a meeting this week, Earnest was not specific in his answer.
“I don’t have a detailed explanation for you, other than to say that we are going to choose when is the appropriate time to meet with these foreign interlocutors,” Earnet said. “We’ve obviously met with the Muslim Brotherhood in the past, as recently as early this year. But on this visit, no one from the administration will be meeting with them.”
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