Trump may become lifelong head of Peace Board - Bloomberg

“President Donald Trump could still lead his proposed Board of Peace after he leaves the White House,” an unnamed US official said.

The official added that the next US president would be able to appoint or nominate an official US representative to the council’s board of directors.

Bloomberg notes that the possibility of Trump remaining chairman of the board for life is another complexity in establishing this high-profile diplomatic initiative, which faces resistance from other G7 leaders. This comes amid the administration's efforts to clarify who will sit on the board, how it will be governed, and how it will function.

Background

Last week, the White House announced the appointment of several representatives to the Executive Council, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. However, it remained unclear whether they are considered official US representatives or are serving in a personal capacity.

The situation is further complicated by a draft charter, which proposes that countries contribute at least $1 billion to secure a permanent seat on the board. The draft also states that Trump himself would control these funds.

When asked whether the $1 billion is an entry fee for the board, a Bloomberg source denied this, saying that countries making substantial contributions to initiatives and wishing to retain oversight would be allowed to remain on the board.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump suggested that the Peace Board could replace the ineffective UN, while adding that the organization could still assist in his peace efforts.

“The UN just hasn’t been very helpful. I’m a big fan of the UN potential, but it has never lived up to its potential. You got to let the UN continue, because the potential is so great,” he said.

Trump added that he would like for them not to need a Peace Board, but emphasized that in all the wars he has mediated, the UN has never helped him.