Trump’s “Board of Peace”.

Even before Donald Trump’s newly created “Board of Peace” has spent a single dollar to stabilize and rebuild war-torn Gaza, Trump is drumming up future work for his fledgling organization by starting a new war in the Middle East. On February 28 the United States and Israel initiated a bombing campaign across Iran to destroy the country’s military infrastructure and nuclear program, and to force regime change. Iran has fired scores of retaliatory missiles targeting numerous sites in Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. Iranian missiles have struck sites in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the U.A.E. If this is what peace in the Middle East looks like, Trump’s Board of Peace is destined to fail before it gets out of the starting gate.
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It is too early to determine all the ramifications of the military strikes on Iran. The Middle East is a very complicated region of the world and there is no telling if the latest military actions by the United States will be concluded in days or erupt into a full-fledged war.  Worldwide oil markets will be impacted, the future is uncertain for the people of Iran, and the entire Middle East, indeed the world, is on edge. Rather than focus on the unfolding story in Iran, I would like to dig into Trump’s latest vanity project, the Board of Peace. ​

 Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict (Comprehensive Plan): In September the Trump administration outlined a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza and rebuild the war-torn Palestinian territory.  The plan calls for the establishment of the “Board of Peace”, a new international transitional body to be headed and chaired by Donald Trump. The board will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza and supervise the Palestinian committee responsible for the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people of Gaza.

In early October Israel and Hamas signed off on the first phase of the comprehensive plan ​and a tentative ceasefire commenced.  

Resolution 2803: The United Nations adopted the framework of the 20-point plan with passage of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 on November 17, 2025.  The resolution encouraged the “establishment of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration with international legal personality that will set the framework, and coordinate funding for, the redevelopment of Gaza pursuant to the Comprehensive Plan”.

Resolution 2803 authorizations for the Board of Peace will remain in effect through December 31, 2027, unless it is further authorized by the UN Security Council. 

​Invitations to Join Board of Peace: Starting in mid-January Trump sent out formal invitations to the leaders of approximately 60 countries to join the Board of Peace. So far 27 countries have accepted Trump’s invitation to join the board. Many countries are leery about Trump’s true motives and see the board as a means to supersede the United Nations. It is notable that among the countries that have refused Trump’s invitation are China, Canada, Germany, France, India, Japan, the United Kingdom and the Vatican City. Trump’s invitation to Vladimir Putin to join the board infuriated many European leaders, as did his exclusion of a representative from the Palestinian Authority.  

​Charter of Board of Peace: The Charter of the Board of Peace was formally ratified on January 22, 2026, in Davos, Switzerland. Here is a list of key provisions:

• Mission: The Board of Peace is an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.
• Membership in the Board of Peace is limited to States that accept an invitation from the Chairman.
• Each member State shall serve a term of no more than three years, subject to renewal by the Chairman. Those members who contribute over $1 billion within the first year may have permanent membership.
• Decisions are made by majority vote of those present and voting, subject to approval by the Chairman.
• Donald J. Trump shall serve as Chairman of the Board of Peace.
• Replacement of the Chairman occurs only upon resignation or incapacity, as determined by unanimous approval of the Executive Board.
• Members of the Executive Board are selected by the Chairman. Members serve a two-year term, subject to removal by the Chairman.
• The Board of Peace shall possess international legal personality, including capacity to enter contracts, open bank accounts, and acquire property.
• The Board of Peace continues until dissolved by the Chairman or at the end of odd-numbered years unless renewed by the Chairman.  

Members of the Executive Board: Each member, handpicked by Trump, will oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilization and long-term success.

• Marco Rubio: U.S. Secretary of State.
• Steve Witkoff: U.S. special envoy, billionaire friend of Trump.
• Jared Kushner: Trump’s son-in-law.
• Sir Tony Blair: Former UK prime minister.
• Marc Rowan: Billionaire investor, friend of Trump.
• Ajay Banga: World Bank president.
• Robert Gabriel Jr.: Trump’s deputy national security adviser.

Inaugural Meeting of Board of Peace: The first meeting of the Board of Peace was hosted by Donald Trump at the U.S. Institute of Peace (recently renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace) in Washington D.C. on February 19, 2026. The primary focus of the meeting was to formalize a reconstruction plan for Gaza.
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Representatives from approximately 50 countries attended the meeting: 27 as full members and the others as observers.  During the meeting Trump announced that nine member countries had pledged a total of $7 billion to rebuild Gaza, five committed to deploy troops for an international stabilization force, and Egypt and Jordan pledged to train police. Trump announced that the United States will contribute $10 billion to the effort, but it is unclear where the money will come from without congressional approval. The United Nations estimates that it will cost at least $70 billion to rebuild Gaza. 

​Concerns About Trump’s Board of Peace: The Board of Peace provides the strategic vision for implementing the Comprehensive Plan, controls the purse strings, and oversees the governance and rebuilding of Gaza. Donald Trump has veto power over it all. Here are some of my specific concerns about the Board of Peace:

• As Chairman of the Board of Peace Donald Trump is accountable to no one and may remain Chairman for an indefinite period. This will provide Trump with influence on the world stage long after he is no longer president.
• The Charter of the Board of Peace states that it will continue until dissolved by the Chairman. Resolution 2803 authorized the Board of Peace as a transitional administration with authorization through December 31, 2027.
• Resolution 2803 authorizes the Board of Peace for the redevelopment of Gaza. Nowhere in its charter does the Board of Peace even mention Gaza. Trump is expanding the scope of the board far beyond that authorized by the UN Security Council, posting on Truth Social, “۰۰۰that the Board of Peace will present a bold Vision for the civilians of Gaza, and then, far beyond Gaza-WORLD PEACE!”
• Trump’s Board of Peace threatens the authority of the United Nations by claiming ultimate authority over the reconstruction of Gaza, and if Trump gets his way, future conflict zones. Trump recently posted on Truth Social, “The Board of Peace will prove to be the most consequential International Body in History.” Senator Markey (D-Mass.) has called the Board of Peace “۰۰۰a blatant power grab that will undermine both U.N. and U.S. influence throughout the world.” Trump has recently stated that “۰۰۰the Board of Peace is going to almost be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly.” The Board of Peace is not sanctioned by Congress and does not represent the views or interests of the government or people of the United States.
• Trump’s absolute authority to control the membership of the Board of Peace has already given legitimacy to rogue nations by inviting their leaders to join. The presidents of Hungry, Belarus and Russian are the most egregious examples. It is the height of hypocrisy to invite the murderous dictator Vladimir Putin to a board dedicated to peace.
• The ability to purchase permanent membership to the Board of Peace for $1 billion (or more), provides another avenue for foreign leaders to buy access to Trump.
• Representatives of Gaza and the Palestinian Authority are not adequately represented on the Board of Peace.
• The Board of Peace will collect billions of dollars in fees and contributions, decide which banks handle the money, and where and how the money is spent. What could possibly go wrong? With Trump’s son-in-law and other loyalists on the Executive Board, how much of this money will flow to Trump family affiliated businesses? Your guess is as good as mine. 

Is Trump’s newly created Board of Peace just his latest vanity project or will it be a force for good in the world? I have my doubts, but I sincerely hope that it can bring peace, security and hope to the people of Gaza.
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With U.S. military strikes ongoing in Iran and casualties beginning to mount, you would be forgiven for thinking that Trump is “bored” of peace and not a serious peace commissioner with authority over the Board of Peace. Trump needs to be reminded that initiating a “war of choice” does not ingratiate him to the Norwegian Noble Committee responsible for selecting the recipients of the Noble Peace Prize.    

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Thanks,
Armchair American