Donald Trump proposes a Peace Council where permanent membership costs $1 billion, with the former president as chairman.
Peace Council Statute Details
Bloomberg obtained draft statute documents for the Peace Council, which indicate Donald Trump would serve as its first chairman and decide on the admission of other representatives. Council decisions would require a majority vote with each member having one vote, but final approval would rest with the chairman.
The statute states that a member’s term cannot exceed three years but may be extended by the chairman. Additionally, the three-year term would apply only to members who contribute $1 billion to the Peace Council.
Competing with the UN?
The Peace Council is described as “an international organization whose purpose is to promote stability, restore reliable and lawful governance, and ensure lasting peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.” According to Bloomberg, critics suggest Trump is attempting to build an organization competitive with the UN.
An unnamed U.S. official confirmed to journalists that access to the Peace Council would be free, while the $1 billion fee would guarantee permanent membership. The funds are intended for Gaza reconstruction.
White House Clarifies Fees
The White House refuted reports suggesting the $1 billion payment was a condition for joining the Council. “There is no minimum fee to join the Peace Council,” the administration emphasized in a brief X post while confirming Bloomberg’s reporting.
“This will simply enable permanent membership for countries demonstrating deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity,” the statement read.
Israel Objects, U.S. Pushes Forward
On Friday, the White House announced that for the Gaza Strip Peace Council, members would include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. The council would also include Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, American billionaire Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump advisor Robert Gabriel.
The Gaza Strip executive board would include Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, to which Israel objects. In a recent speech, Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the composition published by the U.S. side had not been consulted with Israeli authorities. An anonymous U.S. official responded to Netanyahu’s criticism, stating: “This is our show, not his. In recent months, we have done things in Gaza that no one previously thought possible. We intend to continue our actions.”
