Trump convenes Board of Peace, pledges $10 billion
Trump creates parallel institution to UN with no congressional funding authority
President Trump convened the Board of Peace inaugural meeting on February 19, 2026, at the U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters in Washington, D.C. — a building that now bears his name after he seized it from its independent nonprofit leadership earlier this year. Representatives from more than 40 countries attended, with a dozen more as observers.
Key Concepts
Essential concepts and terms to understand this topic
Balance-of-Payments Deficit
When a country spends more on imports and foreign obligations than it earns from exports and foreign investments.
Section 122 Tariff
The statutory authority letting the president impose temporary import surcharges up to 15% for up to 150 days to address persistent balance-of-payments deficits.
IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act)
Federal law authorizing the president to freeze assets and restrict financial transactions during national emergencies involving foreign threats.
Absolute Prohibitions on States
Powers forbidden to states that Congress cannot authorize them to use
Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974
A statutory framework—distinct from Section 122—establishing the legal authority under the Trade Act of 1974 for the president to address balance-of-payments and national security trade matters.
Federalism
Power is divided between the federal government and state governments, each exercising authority in designated areas.
Key People
11
Donald Trump
President of the United States and Board of Peace chairman for life
Trump created the board and chairs it under a charter that grants him lifetime authority independent of his presidency. He pledged $10 billion in U.S. funds without detailing a funding source and declared the board would 'almost be looking over the United Nations.' He set the agenda, controls membership, and can veto any board decision.
JV
JD Vance
Vice President of the United States
Vance flanked Trump at the inaugural meeting and participated in the group photo with world leaders. He is a founding member of the board's executive structure and has supported Trump's Gaza peace framework publicly.
MR
Marco Rubio
Secretary of State and Board of Peace founding executive board member
Rubio attended and was named as a member of the founding Executive Board, which sits above the Gaza Executive Board. He has been the primary diplomatic architect of the board's membership outreach to Arab and Muslim-majority countries.
Jared Kushner
Senior adviser and founding Executive Board member
Kushner presented the Gaza reconstruction vision at Davos in January, proposing to turn the territory into an upscale seaside resort and presenting zone maps for redevelopment. His January presentation was widely criticized as colonial and ignored Palestinian input. He is listed on the founding Executive Board alongside Rubio.
NM
Nikolay Mladenov
High Representative for Gaza, Board of Peace
Mladenov, a former UN Middle East envoy from Bulgaria, leads day-to-day operations for the board's Gaza mission. He reported that 2,000 Palestinians had already applied to join a new transitional police force and outlined the disarmament demand to Hamas, saying 'there is no other option except the full demilitarization of Gaza.' He is responsible for negotiating the details with factions on the ground.
Jasper Jeffers
Major General, U.S. Army; Commander of the International Stabilization Force
Jeffers announced that Indonesia accepted the deputy commander role for the ISF and that the force would begin in Rafah before expanding sector by sector. He outlined the plan for 20,000 troops and 12,000 police. He did not provide a specific deployment timeline.
PS
Prabowo Subianto
President of Indonesia
Subianto attended the inaugural meeting and accepted the deputy commander position for the International Stabilization Force, pledging up to 8,000 Indonesian troops to Gaza if the force is formally confirmed. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority country, making its participation a significant symbolic achievement for the board.
Ali Shaath
Head of the Palestinian technocratic government, Gaza Executive Board
Shaath leads the subordinate executive board responsible for implementing reconstruction and governance in Gaza. He stated that a new Palestinian police force would deploy soon, with a goal of 5,000 trained officers within 60 days and 12,000 total. His board was appointed without Palestinian elections or broader Palestinian political representation.
PP
Pierbattista Pizzaballa
Cardinal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Pizzaballa condemned the board as 'a colonialist operation: others deciding for the Palestinians,' one of the most prominent religious voices challenging the board's legitimacy. His criticism reflected broader concerns among human rights experts that Palestinians have no meaningful say in how their territory is governed or rebuilt.
Sharif Abdel Kouddous
Middle East and North Africa editor, Drop Site News
Abdel Kouddous analyzed the board's charter in detail and reported that it contains no mention of Palestine, Palestinians, the right of return, or Palestinian self-determination. He described the board as 'a parody of a colonial body' that gives Trump king-like powers. His reporting provided the most detailed public analysis of the charter's governance structure.
GI
Gianni Infantino
President, FIFA
Infantino attended the inaugural meeting and announced a $75 million FIFA contribution to rebuild soccer facilities in Gaza. He briefly wore a red MAGA-style hat during the proceedings, a gesture that drew attention and criticism. FIFA's contribution represents the largest non-governmental pledge at the meeting.
Claims & Perspectives
True
True
Trump said the U.S. will contribute $10 billion to the Board of Peace
Trump said this at the inaugural meeting. However, PBS NewsHour and Axios both noted it's unclear whether the president has authority to spend those funds without congressional appropriation. No funding source was identified.
True
The Board of Peace charter names Trump as chairman for life with veto power and sole succession authority
The Wikipedia article on the Board of Peace, citing the charter circulated to national capitals, confirms Trump is named chairman for life, can appoint and dismiss members, set agendas, issue resolutions, and designate his own successor. Permanent members pay $1 billion but still cannot override the chairman.
True
The Board of Peace charter contains no mention of Palestine, Palestinians, or Palestinian rights
Journalist Sharif Abdel Kouddous of Drop Site News reported the charter as analyzed contains no mention of Palestine, Palestinians, the right of return, or the right to self-determination. The charter focuses instead on internal rules granting authority to the chairman.
True
Gaza will cost $70 billion to rebuild
The UN, EU, and World Bank conducted an operational damage and needs assessment estimating that rebuilding Gaza will cost upwards of $70 billion and take years. Combined pledges at the February 19 meeting total $17 billion — about 24% of the assessed need.
True
Canada was uninvited from the Board of Peace by Trump
NBC News reported Trump withdrew Canada's invitation shortly after Prime Minister Mark Carney gave a speech at the World Economic Forum warning of a 'rupture' in the world order. No Sub-Saharan African nations received invitations at all.
True
No Sub-Saharan African country received an invitation to the Board of Peace
Wikipedia's entry on the Board of Peace confirms that around 60 countries received invitations to be founding members, and that no countries from Sub-Saharan Africa were among them — a notable geographic exclusion affecting more than 1 billion people.
What you can do
Contact your senators about the $10 billion pledge and the Appropriations Clause
civic action
Trump pledged $10 billion without a funding source or congressional approval. The Constitution's Appropriations Clause (Article I, Section 9) requires Congress to authorize all federal spending. Your senators can demand a funding plan, hold hearings, or refuse to appropriate the money.
Ask your representative to request the Board of Peace charter and governance documents
civic action
The board's charter has not been formally published or submitted to Congress. Rep. Chellie Pingree and other lawmakers have noted Congress has received no formal documentation of how already-appropriated funds are being spent. Requesting documents through your representative is a legitimate oversight function.
Read the Board of Peace charter and follow independent coverage
media literacy
Most coverage of the board has focused on Trump's announcements rather than the charter's governance structure. Reporters like Sharif Abdel Kouddous at Drop Site News and analysis from The Guardian have examined the charter in detail. Understanding the actual document is essential to evaluating whether this is a diplomatic breakthrough or a power consolidation.