U.S. President Donald Trump Launches ‘Board of Peace’ Initiative Focused on Gaza Reconstruction
Controversial Membership Structure and International Invitations Spark Debate
Washington D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has officially launched his highly anticipated ‘Board of Peace’ this month, a new international initiative he describes as being primarily focused on the critical task of rebuilding Gaza. The formation of this board, announced on January 15, 2026, via Truth Social, has immediately drawn global attention, not least for its proposed membership structure: a significant $1 billion contribution for nations seeking permanent status.
According to a report from Bloomberg, which cited a draft charter of the new organization, President Trump will serve as the Board’s inaugural chairman, holding sole authority over which nations are granted membership. The charter reportedly outlines two tiers of participation: “Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter’s entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman. The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force,” the draft states. While a U.S. official confirmed to PEOPLE that membership itself is free, the hefty $1 billion payment is presented as the gateway to an unlimited term.
The charter, as described by Bloomberg, appears to grant President Trump substantial control, suggesting he “would control the money” raised, which is designated for Gaza’s reconstruction efforts. Furthermore, the chairman is endowed with the power to remove member states, though this action is subject to a veto by a two-thirds majority vote from other member nations. This centralized authority contrasts sharply with established multilateral organizations like the United Nations, a body President Trump has frequently criticized.
Putin Among Key Figures Invited to New Peace Board
Initial invitations to the Board of Peace have already extended to several prominent international figures. Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney are among those reportedly invited. However, the most notable and controversial invitation to date came to Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Monday, January 19, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed to reporters, as per The Guardian, that Putin had received an invitation and was currently “trying to clarify all the nuances” before providing a response. This development unfolds against the grim backdrop of Russia’s nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine, an conflict that, by November, the United Nations reported had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, including over 50,000 civilian casualties.
Vision for Gaza and Founding Executive Board
President Trump’s vision for the Board of Peace extends specifically to the post-conflict administration of Gaza. In a subsequent Truth Social post, he articulated his plan to back “a newly appointed Palestinian Technocratic Government, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, supported by the Board’s High Representative, to govern Gaza during its transition,” emphasizing that these leaders are “unwaveringly committed to a PEACEFUL future!”
To translate this ambitious vision into action, the White House announced on its official website on January 16 that a founding Executive Board has been established. This board comprises notable figures including Secretary Marco Rubio, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, former senior advisor Jared Kushner, former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, private equity magnate Marc Rowan, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, and Robert Gabriel. Additionally, Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum have been appointed as senior advisors, tasked with leading the “day-to-day strategy and operations” and ensuring “disciplined execution” of the Board’s mandate and diplomatic priorities.
A New Approach to International Diplomacy
The establishment of the Board of Peace follows years of vocal criticism from President Trump regarding the effectiveness of the United Nations. During the 80th session of the United Nations in September 2025, he expressed his profound dissatisfaction, stating, “What is the point of the United Nations? You do nothing to support the end of war, other than write a pathetic letter or two, which does nothing. Empty words don’t solve wars… A bad escalator and a bad teleprompter is all I got from the United Nations.” This new initiative appears to be his administration’s proposed alternative or supplement to existing international diplomatic frameworks, reflecting his long-held skepticism about their efficacy.
