WASHINGTON, January 19, 2026 – Former President Donald Trump is proposing a rather unconventional path to peace: asking nations to essentially buy their way onto a new “Board of Peace,” with a price tag of up to $1 billion for a permanent seat.The proposal, outlined in a charter reviewed Monday by the Associated Press, raises questions about access to diplomacy and the potential for financial influence in conflict resolution.
A Billion-Dollar Buy-In for Peace?
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The former president’s plan seeks to establish a global body funded by ample contributions from member states, sparking debate over equity and effectiveness.
- The “Board of Peace” aims to resolve conflicts but its charter doesn’t limit its scope to specific regions.
- Membership requires a hefty financial commitment, possibly excluding nations with limited resources.
- Trump intends to chair the board, with the power to appoint and remove members.
- The initiative appears to challenge existing international institutions like the United Nations.
The White House has reportedly approached various world leaders to join the board, which would be chaired by trump himself. Those invited include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
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Beyond Gaza: A Broad Mandate
Initially envisioned to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, the board’s charter doesn’t appear to restrict its activities to the occupied Palestinian territory. The White House has outlined a structure including a main board,a Palestinian committee of technocrats,and a secondary “executive board” intended for advisory roles.
According to the charter,”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.”
A Critique of Existing Institutions
The proposal also takes a pointed jab at established international bodies, suggesting the board should possess “the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too frequently enough failed.” Trump has been a vocal critic of the United Nations, announcing this month his country’s withdrawal from 66 global organizations and treaties-roughly half affiliated with the UN.
Membership, the draft charter specifies, will be “limited to States invited to participate by the Chairman.” Trump would also retain the power to remove member states-subject to a two-thirds veto-and appoint his successor should he relinquish his chairmanship.
The “Board of Peace” began taking shape Saturday with invitations extended to the leaders of Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, and Canada. Trump also named Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime minister Tony Blair, senior negotiator Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner as members.
Israel has reportedly raised objections to the composition of a “gaza executive board” under the body, citing the inclusion of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi.
