State of the World from NPR What to know about President Trump’s Board of Peace
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Jan 28, 2026 
Daniel Estrin, NPR Middle East correspondent who reported on Gaza reconstruction, and Greg Myrie, NPR international correspondent covering U.S. military moves, discuss Trump’s new Board of Peace. They unpack its membership and billion-dollar pitch. They explore links between the board and Gaza rebuilding. They note U.S. military positioning in the region and tensions around oversight and legitimacy.
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Trump's Private Global Board Raises Power Concerns
- Trump announced a privately run global "Board of Peace" that he would personally lead and that aims to work with the U.N.
- Critics worry it could rival or replace the U.N. and concentrate power around Trump indefinitely.
Membership Skews Toward Authoritarian Leaders
- Several autocratic leaders from Belarus, Hungary, Saudi Arabia and Egypt joined the board while many traditional U.S. allies declined.
- That alignment suggests the board may serve as a channel between Trump and authoritarian leaders rather than mainstream allies.
Gaza Reconstruction Is The Board's Central Test
- The U.N. endorsed the board specifically to oversee Gaza reconstruction under a broader committee structure.
- The board's main test will be whether it can credibly manage Gaza rebuilding and related governance tasks.