Trump vows $10 billion from U.S. for his Board of Peace as he leans into global role

Image courtesy of NBC News. From ‘Trump vows $10 billion from U.S. for his Board of Peace as he leans into global role’ (February 19, 2026). Credit: Chantal Da Silva. Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/gaza/trump-board-of-peace-first-meeting-gaza-un-israel-rcna259509. © Original owner. Used under fair use.

In Washington last Thursday, President Donald Trump gathered his newly minted Board of Peace for its inaugural meeting, an assemblage billed as a pinnacle of his presidency and a means to bring global conflicts to an end. The gathering focused on the precarious ceasefire in Gaza, where tensions have simmered since the truce was agreed upon.

Trump’s Board of Peace, featuring representatives from at least 40 countries, including heads of state, convened at the Institute of Peace for a day of promises and pledges. The President announced that board members had committed $7 billion for reconstruction in Gaza, with an additional $10 billion commitment from the U.S., an investment he described as “a small number” compared to the cost of war.

It is yet unclear where the funds would come from, and the White House has not responded to NBC News’ inquiry regarding the source of the money. Some U.S. allies have expressed concern that Trump may aim to undermine the United Nations with his aspirations for the board. In his remarks, however, Trump vowed to “lift up” the U.N., while also asserting that the Board of Peace would serve as a watchdog over the international body.

The meeting featured various world leaders, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Argentine President Javier Milei, both allies of Trump. The gathering was marked by red MAGA-style hats emblazoned with “USA,” which were handed out to participants.

Trump cast the board as a central piece of his legacy, with peace a key focus in his second term. He took credit for landslide electoral victories in other countries after endorsing foreign leaders, such as Milei and Orbán. The U.S., he claimed, has amassed the most air power in the region in decades, and Trump warned of potential military action if negotiations with Iran fail to produce a “meaningful” deal.

Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, was also present at the meeting alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. The President lavished praise on his team, joking that those who had not yet joined the board “are playing a little cute.”

The Board of Peace’s agenda includes humanitarian assistance, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and the International Stabilization Force. A video played at the event outlined a three-year goal to rebuild Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, along with the creation of a “gateway” connecting Gaza to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and extending to India and Europe. By year 10, according to the video, “Gaza will be self-governed, integrated into the region with thriving industries and housing for all.”

Critics have condemned the Board of Peace as a colonial project and questioned a lack of Palestinian representation on its Gaza executive board. Some world leaders, including the European Union, have voiced concerns over Russia’s potential involvement after an invitation was extended to the Kremlin. Human rights experts and others maintain that the ceasefire in Gaza has continued to hold, despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes that have resulted in hundreds of deaths among Palestinians, many of whom remain displaced and living in tents.

For everyday Americans, this means a complex web of political negotiations that could have far-reaching consequences for Middle Eastern stability. The potential investment of $10 billion in the Board of Peace initiative may ultimately impact the budgets of social programs, infrastructure projects, and military expenditures at home. Families may find themselves affected by changes to immigration policies or diplomatic relationships with other countries as a result of Trump’s global ambitions.

Looking ahead, the Board of Peace is slated to hold another event in Norway, though it remains unclear whether Norway will officially join the board. Some world leaders have voiced concern over the potential involvement of Russia and have questioned the lack of Palestinian representation on the Gaza executive board.

As the global community watches the development of Trump’s Board of Peace, one cannot help but wonder: what does a peaceful Gaza look like to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.