Special Investigations

Press Freedom Defense Fund

Trump’s Orwellian Board of Peace Consists Entirely of Human Rights Abusers

An Intercept analysis finds that every single Board of Peace member state has been rebuked for human rights violations.

At the inaugural meeting of his self-styled Board of Peace earlier this month, Donald Trump declared peace in the Middle East while simultaneously threatening to plunge the region into devastating conflict by again attacking Iran. Within 10 days, Trump followed through on that promise, teaming up with Israel to unleash a widespread campaign of deadly airstrikes in Iran that have thrust the Middle East into regional war.

It was one of numerous incongruities that surfaced during the bizarre first meeting of Trump’s Temu United Nations.

“In terms of prestige, there’s never been anything close because these are the greatest world leaders, almost everybody has accepted, and the ones that haven’t will,” Trump proclaimed before he grasped a diminutive gold-colored mallet and gaveled out the conclave to strains of the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a member of the group’s executive board, could be seen standing alone in the background as Trump glad-handed some of the assembled world leaders. Rubio skulked off before Laura Branigan’s 1982 hit “Gloria” began to play.

An Intercept analysis finds that every member state of the Board of Peace has been rebuked for human rights violations, including many by Rubio’s own State Department. Those not currently on the State Department list after a 2025 whitewash of countries’ human rights reports shielding Trump’s allies from honest assessments were previously cited by the department.

Originally conceived as a means to oversee the shaky Gaza peace plan, Trump has recast the Board of Peace as an international body under his control and direction, ostensively devoted to ending or preventing wars. “We’re also going to maybe take it a step further where we see hot spots around the world,” Trump decreed. “We will help Gaza, we will straighten it out, we’ll make it successful, we will make it peaceful, and we will do things like that in other spots.” 

Trump even suggested his group would provide oversight of the U.N. “The Board of Peace is going to almost be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly,” Trump said.

As chair of the Board of Peace, with a lifetime appointment, Trump determines the council’s membership, chooses the executive board, and has the final say on all things since “decisions shall be made by a majority of the Member States present and voting, subject to the approval of the Chairman,” according to the Board’s charter. As chair, Trump is also the “final authority regarding the meaning, interpretation, and application” of the charter. Any amendments to the charter also must have Trump’s stamp of approval.

Trump controls the Board’s finances as chair, creating what looks to be a slush fund of international proportions. A $1 billion contribution secures permanent membership on the Board instead of a three-year appointment, which requires no payment. Trump said he also exacted promises of more than $7 billion from nine countries, although Board of Peace documents show only eight countries formally signed a pledge of their “intention to contribute funds to the Board of Peace.” For his part, Trump promised to siphon U.S. tax dollars — at least $10 billion — into the Board’s coffers. The Board of Peace, in turn, announced “more than $15 billion in funding commitments” for “humanitarian relief and reconstruction activities” in Gaza.

Plans Call for “New Rafah” Built in Israel’s Image — Without Palestinians

The Board’s charter states that it can acquire and dispose of “immovable and movable property, institute legal proceedings, open bank accounts, receive and disburse private and public funds, and employ staff.” As chair, Trump has “exclusive authority to create, modify, or dissolve subsidiary entities as necessary or appropriate to fulfill the........

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