Now, former President Donald Trump has made it official by launching his “Board of Peace.” Just like this new international forum—which he chairs—his plan to supplant the United Nations. This initiative has come under fire for its overall structure and the powers it gives Trump, unlike any before him, are uncharted. The board’s stated goal is to encourage and reinforce peace-building initiatives, particularly in areas such as Gaza. Critics fear the court is starting to look like an “imperial court.”
His charter makes him the focus of board’s activities as it includes his name 35 times, illustrating his importance to the board’s existence. He has near dictatorial control over board actions. He determines the schedule of meetings and the issues to be addressed. Such an extraordinary level of control calls into serious question the board’s professed dedication to a transparent and democratic process.
To further strengthen his sway, Trump stacked the board with noteworthy billionaires like Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Trump’s strategy involves rich people in his pursuit for peace. This method, both rotten and legalized, replicates the pay-to-play scheme associated with his Mar-a-Lago membership. In addition, members who wish to have life membership must pay $1 billion in cash reserves, thus putting a financial hurdle to the table.
In a first for the Club, Trump reserves to himself the power to remove members, including life members. Even more worrisome, this provision undermines institutional stability and accountability within the umbrella organization.
The Board of Peace, an organ with an executive board specializing in Gaza. Moreover, it has a national committee that manages the administration in Gaza. Nickolay Mladenov becomes Trump’s “high representative” in the region. He is responsible for adopting mechanisms that encourage ceasefire supporting actions, governance and reconstruction in Gaza.
Trump’s motivations for creating this board likely include keeping engagement in Gaza and working towards a lasting peace. He has articulated a vision of getting done through personal diplomacy what normal diplomatic infrastructures have historically not produced.
Trump also put on these vengeful tariffs on all countries that wouldn’t sign up and join his board. This maneuver showcased his tough-as-nails devotion to the new program. Critics have stated that these tariffs run counter to international cooperation on promoting lawful behavior and may increase hostility in a region already known for its volatility.
The board’s charter reflects a vision for “a more nimble and effective international peace-building body,” as noted by The Guardian. This simple clip sums up Trump’s desire to upend the way the world has traditionally engaged in peace efforts. The approach has created a wave of backlash, given its highly concentrated power and tendency to be predatory.
“The courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed.” – The Guardian