World leaders gather in Washington for Donald Trump’s first Board of Peace meeting
Trump says US has ‘some work’ to do with Iran, repeats call for country to end nuclear program
On Iran, Donald Trump praised Steve Witkoff’s diplomatic efforts with the Republic. “Iran is a hot spot right now,” Trump said, noting that both Witkoff and Jared Kushner – another envoy and the president’s son-in-law – have a good relationship with the representatives Iran. “Good talks are being had. It’s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran. We have to make a meaningful deal, otherwise, bad things happen, but we have to make a meaningful deal,” Trump said.
He added:
We do have some work to do with Iran. They can’t have a nuclear weapons. Very simple. You can’t have peace in the Middle East if they have a nuclear weapon.
Trump continued to keep the cards of any possible military action close to his chest. “We may have to take it a step further, or we may not, maybe we’re going to make a deal,” he said. “You’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days.”
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“I think the United Nations has great potential, really great potential,” Trump said. “The Board of Peace is going to almost be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly.”
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The president noted that if the UN needs help “money wise”, the Board of Peace is prepared to step in.
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Donald Trump said the United States will contribute $10bn to his Board of Peace. A reminder, that the president said over the weekend that member states have pledged $5bn to be a part of the board.
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“When you look at that compared to the cost of war, that’s two weeks of fighting, it’s a very small number. It sounds like a lot, but it’s a very small number,” Trump said, a nod to the emerging chorus of frustration at the administration’s substantial involvement in foreign policy.
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The president offered no details about how the US would send this money to the board, or if he’s requested approval from Congress for the funds.
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On Iran, Donald Trump praised Steve Witkoff’s diplomatic efforts with the Republic. “Iran is a hot spot right now,” Trump said, noting that both Witkoff and Jared Kushner – another envoy and the president’s son-in-law – have a good relationship with the representatives Iran. “Good talks are being had. It’s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran. We have to make a meaningful deal, otherwise, bad things happen, but we have to make a meaningful deal,” Trump said.
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He added:
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n
We do have some work to do with Iran. They can’t have a nuclear weapons. Very simple. You can’t have peace in the Middle East if they have a nuclear weapon.
n
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Trump continued to keep the cards of any possible military action close to his chest. “We may have to take it a step further, or we may not, maybe we’re going to make a deal,” he said. “You’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days.”
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Trump kicked off his remarks with his misleading claim that he’s ended eight wars. He notes that the conflict in Ukraine continues to evade him.
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As he welcomes member states today, he says “there’s never been anything close” to this level of prestige when it comes to the Board of Peace. He notes that some countries – namely Nato allies – are “playing a little cute”, by deciding to not join the Trump-led board.
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Congressmen Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie plan to introduce a war powers resolution next week, and try to force a vote on the House floor, to curb the Trump administration’s possible military action against Iran.
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“Trump officials say there’s a 90% chance of strikes on Iran. He can’t without Congress,” said Khanna, a California Democrat, amid the reports that the US is positioning aircraft carriers and amassing a large arsenal of fighter jets for a potential strikes.
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He’s teamed up with Republican Massie – whom he worked with to push the Epstein Files Transparency Act on to the House floor – on the legislation.
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“I first got into politics to end the Iraq War. I won’t let Trump launch a disastrous war without Congress voting to stop it,” Khanna added.
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The significant buildup of US air power in the Middle East is the largest since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, according to a report.
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That invasion began with a “shock and awe” bombing campaign on Baghdad in a violent display of US military power. Now, the US is considering launching an attack on Iran, with cutting-edge F-35 and F-22 jet fighters sent to the Middle East and a second aircraft carrier loaded with attack and electronic-warfare planes on the way, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
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US officials told the newspaper that the firepower will give the US the option of carrying out a sustained, weeks-long air war against Iran. Trump has received several briefings on his options should he decide to strike, all of them designed to maximise damage to Iran’s regime and its regional proxies, the officials said.
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Those options, according to the officials, include a campaign to kill Iranian political and military leaders and an air attack striking nuclear and ballistic-missile facilities.
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The Trump administration is planning to build a 5,000-person military base in Gaza, sprawling more than 350 acres, according to Board of Peace contracting records reviewed by the Guardian.
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The site is envisioned as a military operating base for a future International Stabilisation Force (ISF), planned as a multinational military force composed of pledged troops. The ISF is part of the newly created Board of Peace which is meant to govern Gaza. The Board of Peace is chaired by Donald Trump and led in part by his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
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The plans reviewed by the Guardian call for the phased construction of a military outpost that will eventually have a footprint of 1,400 metres by 1,100 metres, ringed by 26 trailer-mounted armoured watch towers, a small arms range, bunkers and a warehouse for military equipment for operations. The entire base will be encircled with barbed wire.
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Read the full report here:
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A grouping of largely oppressive and authoritarian world leaders and their envoys are flying to Washington for the inaugural meeting of Donald Trump’s newly established Board of Peace.
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Global powers, including Washington’s traditional allies, fear the US-led body is an attempt to sidestep the more democratic United Nations and replace it with a fee-paying members’ club run on the whims of a single man.
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It is not clear how many of the more than 20 members of the Board of Peace, which Trump runs and chairs, will attend the first meeting on Thursday. What is clear is that many of the founding member countries are run as military regimes or dictatorships, while others joined to appease Trump.
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The Guardian’s Olive Holmes has more on the list of several confirmed attenders, and where their countries are placed in an annual ranking on political rights and civil liberties, here:
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Good morning and welcome to the US politics live blog. The inaugural meeting of US president Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, his initiative to bring an end to the war in Gaza, begins today with representatives from more than 45 countries expected to attend.
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But some major European allies, including the UK, Germany and France, have turned down their invitations, wary of the group’s operations and its potential to rival the UN. There is also no Palestinian representation on the board, while Israel holds a seat.
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The summit comes almost three months since the UN security council approved a US-backed ceasefire plan, which included a two-year mandate for the Board of Peace to oversee the demilitarisation and reconstruction of Gaza. Key issues that remain unresolved include the disarmament of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli troops in Gaza, the scale of reconstruction and the flow of humanitarian aid into the territory.
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Trump announced ahead of the meeting that board members have pledged $5bn (£3.7bn) for the reconstruction efforts, a fraction of the $70bn (£52bn) needed to rebuild the Palestinian territory that has been devastated by two years of conflict.
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The ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the agreement. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israeli troops withdrew to positions behind a so-called yellow line, although they remain in control of more than half the territory.
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Key events
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Eddie Ramathe prime minister of Albania, refuted claims from Nato allies that the Board of Peace would undermine the authority of the United Nations.
“It does not look to me like an attempt to replace the UN,” Rama said. “But if it helps shake that agonizing giant then inshallah, wake it up.”
Attending today’s event is former British prime minister Tony Blairwho extolled Donald Trump’s so-called 20-point peace plan for Gaza.
“This is a vision of Gaza as part of the Middle East at peace, not a phoney piece of declarations no one means, and agreements no one intends to keep,” Blair said.
“Whether you’re a Muslim, Jew, Christian, of any faith or none – you can rise by your own efforts and feel your government by your side, not on your back. That is the vision behind President Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, and it remains the best, indeed the only hope for Gaza, the region and the wider world.”
Trump says Board of Peace will be ‘looking over’ the United Nations
Donald Trump noted today that his Board of Peace plans to work with the United Nations (UN) “very closely” moving forward. This comes as several ally countries – including the Vatican – have eschewed joining the board because it could usurp the UN’s power.
“I think the United Nations has great potential, really great potential,” Trump said. “The Board of Peace is going to almost be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly.”
The president noted that if the UN needs help “money wise”, the Board of Peace is prepared to step in.
US to pledge $10bn to Board of Peace
Donald Trump said the United States will contribute $10bn to his Board of Peace. A reminder, that the president said over the weekend that member states have pledged $5bn to be a part of the board.
“When you look at that compared to the cost of war, that’s two weeks of fighting, it’s a very small number. It sounds like a lot, but it’s a very small number,” Trump said, a nod to the emerging chorus of frustration at the administration’s substantial involvement in foreign policy.
The president offered no details about how the US would send this money to the board, or if he’s requested approval from Congress for the funds.
Trump says US has ‘some work’ to do with Iran, repeats call for country to end nuclear program
On Iran, Donald Trump praised Steve Witkoff’s diplomatic efforts with the Republic. “Iran is a hot spot right now,” Trump said, noting that both Witkoff and Jared Kushner – another envoy and the president’s son-in-law – have a good relationship with the representatives Iran. “Good talks are being had. It’s proven to be, over the years, not easy to make a meaningful deal with Iran. We have to make a meaningful deal, otherwise, bad things happen, but we have to make a meaningful deal,” Trump said.
He added:
We do have some work to do with Iran. They can’t have a nuclear weapons. Very simple. You can’t have peace in the Middle East if they have a nuclear weapon.
Trump continued to keep the cards of any possible military action close to his chest. “We may have to take it a step further, or we may not, maybe we’re going to make a deal,” he said. “You’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days.”
Trump has spent most of his remarks, so far, touting his self-perceived achievements, with little explanation on how the Board of Peace actually plans to function.
On the war in Gaza, Trump declares it “over” barring “little flames” in the region. “The cease fire was held, and every last remaining hostage, both living and dead, has been returned back home. Think of that,” Trump added.
Andrew Roth
Reporting from Washington
Donald Trump has endorsed Hungary’s Viktor Orbán ahead of parliamentary elections in which the illiberal European leader could be pushed out of office after 16 years in power.
Nodding to criticisms that endorsing foreign leaders would amount to elections interference, Trump said: “I’m not supposed to be endorsing people, but I endorse when I like people. You know, I’ve had a very good record of endorsing candidates within the United States, but now I endorse foreign leaders, including Viktor Orbán.”
Trump said that his support for Argentina’s Javier Milei, another attendee of the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, had also helped his party in recent elections.
“He was a little behind in the polls,” Trump added. “He ended up winning in a landslide.”
Turning back to Orban, he said: “Prime Minister Orban of Hungary … has my complete and total endorsement for election. Not everybody in Europe loves that endorsement. That’s OK. He does an unbelievable job. He’s done an incredible job on immigration. Unlike some countries that have hurt themselves, they’re working on it,” Trump said.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio had previously suggested that the US would provide Hungary with financial support and an extension of sanctions relief on purchasing Russian gas and oil for as long as the conservative leader is in power.
Few details so far on how Trump plans to solve the conflict in Gaza or begin the reconstruction of the wartorn region.
Donald Trump addresses Board of Peace event
Trump kicked off his remarks with his misleading claim that he’s ended eight wars. He notes that the conflict in Ukraine continues to evade him.
As he welcomes member states today, he says “there’s never been anything close” to this level of prestige when it comes to the Board of Peace. He notes that some countries – namely Nato allies – are “playing a little cute”, by deciding to not join the Trump-led board.
Andrew Roth
Reporting from Washington
Donald Trump’s inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace is off to a late start. World leaders and delegates mainly from the Middle East and Asia are gathered for a family photo before the speeches begin at the recently renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. Trump enters the room and exchanges a few words with Viktor Orbán, a rightwing ally and a rare European leader who has chosen to attend the event. US Nato allies have chosen not to join the organisation and send observers instead, with some saying the Board of Peace undermines other international organisations like the United Nations. Trump then exchanges handshakes with a number of autocrats including Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev, as well as rightwing allies like Argentina’s Javier Milei.
US speakers include Trump, secretary of state Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. JD Vance is there for the photo but is not scheduled to speak.
The speaking list is dominated by Gulf countries, with representatives for Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar all set to speak, as well as the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the foreign minister of Turkey and the president of Romania.
Also somewhat surprisingly delegates will see a video presentation by Fifa. Though that may not be surprising given Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s close relationship with Trump.
“I think we have to smile,” Trump says. “A lot of good people.”
“Does everybody like the music? It’s good music.”
We’re just moments away.
As we wait for the Board of Peace event to begin, my colleague Jakub Krupa notes that Italy, Poland, Czech Republic and Romania are among more than a dozen of countries sending senior officials to the meeting, but only Hungary is actually expected to be part of the board as a member. This comes as several key European allies, as well as the Vatican, snubbed the US’ invitation to join the board.
Lawmakers push war powers resolution to curb possible military action in Iran
Congressmen Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie plan to introduce a war powers resolution next week, and try to force a vote on the House floor, to curb the Trump administration’s possible military action against Iran.
“Trump officials say there’s a 90% chance of strikes on Iran. He can’t without Congress,” said Khanna, a California Democrat, amid the reports that the US is positioning aircraft carriers and amassing a large arsenal of fighter jets for a potential strikes.
He’s teamed up with Republican Massie – whom he worked with to push the Epstein Files Transparency Act on to the House floor – on the legislation.
“I first got into politics to end the Iraq War. I won’t let Trump launch a disastrous war without Congress voting to stop it,” Khanna added.
