When Donald Trump first floated the idea of a “Board of Peace,” it was couched as a diplomatic forum tied to the Gaza ceasefire. It would, he promoted, be an international body meant to coordinate reconstruction, governance reforms, and long-term regional stability. Yet months later, the initiative has expanded into something far more controversial, raising questions about power, money, and oversight.
The controversy deepened further during the board’s inaugural summit in Washington on Feb. 19. The meeting was intended to showcase global unity around reconstruction efforts in Gaza and to showcase the board’s international legitimacy. Instead, viral footage captured moments in which 79-year-old Trumo appeared to struggle to stay awake while world leaders delivered remarks.
According to details of the board’s charter reported by international media, the organization’s scope is no longer limited to the Middle East. Instead, it aims to address conflicts anywhere in the world, with Trump serving as chairman indefinitely. Membership includes heads of state invited by Trump himself, with three-year terms, that is unless a country pays $1 billion, which would reportedly secure lifetime membership.
Representatives from Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel (Foreign Minister Gideon Saar), Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, and Vietnam reportedly have opted in. The Vatican and Pope Leo have declined an invitation, reportedly over concerns about how the initiative was structured and who would control it.
The initiative’s financial structure has drawn immediate scrutiny, and not just from the Pope. Critics argue that without transparency or congressional authorization, the board risks functioning less like a diplomatic body and more like a privately controlled geopolitical fund.
Concerns intensified after Trump announced this week that he wants the United States to contribute $10 billion in taxpayer money to support the initiative. Such funding would require approval from Congress, which has not been granted.
I wouldn’t trust any organization that Trump heads, his history of fraud, grifting, lying and cheating makes him the wrong person for the job.