Updated PAiNT Network Briefing — Steven Smith Commentary
“The Board of Peace: A One‑Day Story That Became a Global Test” See Story Below
What the “Board of Peace” is…
($1,000,000,000 membership fee)
Updated PAiNT Network Briefing — Steven Smith Commentary
“The Board of Peace: A One‑Day Story That Became a Global Test”
The speed is the story. In just one day, the Trump administration’s “Board of Peace” has gone from a little‑defined Gaza reconstruction council to a world‑spanning diplomatic pressure campaign, with 50–60 invitations issued and governments scrambling to interpret the fine print. Some invitations reportedly include attachments outlining billion‑dollar buy‑in terms, permanent‑seat options, and a mandate that stretches far beyond Gaza.
A Rapid Global Rollout
According to CBS News, more than 50 countries have received invitations as of Jan. 21. The Hill reports that 59 nations are “in play,” with 60 invitations issued and a $1 billion contribution securing a permanent seat. The Associated Press tally shows a growing list of acceptances — Argentina, Morocco, Hungary, Vietnam, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, UAE, Egypt, Armenia, Azerbaijan — while France, Norway, and Sweden have declined for now.
This is not a slow diplomatic build. It is a shock‑deployment of a new international body.
The Attachments: Money, Mandates, and Trump’s Chairmanship
The emerging details are striking:
- $1 billion = permanent membership (PBS confirms this)
- Three‑year terms for others
- Trump chairs the board indefinitely unless he resigns (CBS)
- The charter draft circulating online does not mention Gaza at all, despite Gaza being the original justification (ABC News)
This is why allies are uneasy: the attachments suggest a pay‑to‑enter, Trump‑chaired global body with a mandate that can expand at will.
Gaza: The Original Justification, Now a Footnote
The Board of Peace was originally pitched as a transitional governance and reconstruction mechanism for Gaza — part of a 20‑point plan to stabilize the territory and prepare it for Palestinian Authority return. But the draft charter circulating online omits Gaza entirely and instead outlines a global conflict‑resolution mandate.
This shift is why some governments are calling the board a UN alternative, not a Gaza tool.
Trump’s Vision and Claimed Benefits
Trump has described the Board as:
- “The greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled” (ABC)
- A body that could “replace” or overshadow the UN
- A mechanism to “resolve global conflict” (PBS)
Supporters frame it as a more agile, U.S.-led peace architecture. Critics see a parallel international order centered on Trump personally.
Family and Inner‑Circle Ties
CBS confirms the founding Executive Board includes:
- Jared Kushner
- Marco Rubio
- Steve Witkoff
- Tony Blair
Kushner is the only family member explicitly named so far.
Stephen Miller & Project 2025
None of the reporting shows:
- A public Stephen Miller statement
- A formal Project 2025 mandate
- Any explicit ideological linkage beyond thematic overlap
The overlap is atmospheric, not documented.
Updated PAiNT Network Statement — Steven Smith
Statement by Steven Smith, CEO & Co‑Editor, Inspirational Technologies / PAiNT Network
The “Board of Peace” has transformed from a Gaza reconstruction council into a global power instrument in less than 24 hours. Invitations are being issued at a pace that outstrips transparency, and some appear to include billion‑dollar attachments that turn peace into a pay‑to‑enter marketplace.
A charter that omits Gaza — the very crisis used to justify the board’s creation — signals a pivot toward something far larger: a Trump‑chaired alternative to the United Nations, funded by states willing to buy influence. This is not peace architecture; it is geopolitical franchising.
At PAiNT Network, we will continue to map these developments, decode the attachments, and expose the structural implications for Gaza, global governance, and democratic accountability. Peace cannot be built on opacity, exclusivity, or personalist power. The world deserves clarity before it signs anything.
The Board of Peace (BoP) is a Trump-initiated international organization, formally announced in January 2026, described as promoting “stability, lawful governance, and enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.” Wikipedia Trump has explicitly suggested it could “replace” or at least rival the UN system, arguing the UN has failed to live up to its mission and that his board “might” supplant it Fox News Wikipedia. Its charter is private, centered on “Chairman Trump,” and allows him to adopt resolutions or initiatives without needing board consent, which critics say makes it a Trump‑dominated alternative to the UN Security Council Wikipedia.
Topic Key points What the Board of Peace is Trump-created international body, chaired by him, framed as alternative/adjunct to UN Fox News Wikipedia Invitees & members Dozens invited; mix of US allies and more controversial states; ~25 accepted so far Aljazeera US News Oversight & control Trump as inaugural (and potentially life) chair; membership/pay-to-play concerns ABC News Wikipedia US News Gaza role Originated as Gaza reconstruction mechanism, now broadened far beyond Gaza Fox News Aljazeera US News Family & inner circle Jared Kushner on founding Executive Board; no clear public role for others US News
Invitees, members, and who oversees it
Invitees and members
- Scope of invitations: Dozens of countries have received invitations, with a signing ceremony planned on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos Aljazeera.
- Accepted so far: Around 25 countries have reportedly accepted, including Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Hungary, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus US News.
- Reluctant or rejecting states: The UK, France, Norway, Sweden and others have either declined or expressed concern, particularly about undermining the UN and about the role of figures like Vladimir Putin Wikipedia.
Oversight and control
- Chairmanship: Trump is the inaugural chairman, and the charter allows him to hold the role indefinitely; a U.S. official has said the chairmanship can be held by Trump until he resigns it ABC News.
- Membership terms: States get three‑year terms, but those contributing more than $1 billion in the first year can gain permanent membership ABC News Wikipedia US News.
- Decision‑making: The charter names only “Chairman Trump” as empowered to act on the board’s behalf, which has led experts and media to describe it as a “pay‑to‑play club” and a vanity project centered on Trump personally Wikipedia.
Gaza, Trump’s stated vision, and claimed benefits
The BoP was initially framed as a mechanism to oversee Gaza’s administration, reconstruction, and economic recovery after the 2023–25 Gaza war Fox News Aljazeera US News. It was tied to a 20‑point “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict,” with the White House saying the board would provide strategic oversight, mobilize international resources, and ensure accountability during Gaza’s transition from conflict to “peace and development” Fox News.
However, the final 11‑page charter does not mention Gaza at all, instead outlining a sweeping global mandate to “secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict” Aljazeera Wikipedia. Supporters frame this as:
- A more “nimble” peace body: Designed to bypass what Trump calls UN gridlock and inefficiency Fox News ABC News Wikipedia.
- A leverage tool: Using U.S. influence and financial incentives to bring states—sometimes adversarial—into a Trump‑led framework Fox News US News.
Critics argue it sidelines Palestinian self‑determination, recenters power in Washington and Mar‑a‑Lago, and risks normalizing authoritarian partners under a “peace” brand Aljazeera Wikipedia.
Trump’s family and inner-circle ties
The clearest family link in the reporting is:
- Jared Kushner: Named as a member of the founding Executive Board, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair US News.
No explicit roles are listed here for Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, or other family members US News. Given the structure—Trump as life‑chair, Kushner on the Executive Board—the governance looks like a tight inner circle rather than a broad, multilateral oversight body Wikipedia US News.
Draft “usual statement” by Steven Smith – Inspirational Technologies / PAiNT Network
Here’s a concise statement you could use or adapt:
Statement by Steven Smith, Inspirational Technologies / PAiNT Network
The so‑called “Board of Peace” is being sold as a new architecture for global stability, but its design tells a different story. A body chaired for life by one man, funded through billion‑dollar buy‑ins, and empowered to bypass existing international law is not a peace institution—it is a power instrument. Gaza’s suffering is being used as a launchpad for a structure that erases Palestinian agency while concentrating authority in a private, pay‑to‑play club.
At PAiNT Network, we believe genuine peace requires transparent institutions, shared governance, and communities—especially in Gaza—at the center of decision‑making. Any initiative that sidelines the UN while weakening human rights norms should be scrutinized, mapped, and challenged in public view. Our commitment is to keep documenting these shifts, translating them into accessible visuals and analysis, so people can see clearly who benefits, who pays, and who is left without a voice.
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