President Donald Trump Thursday, formally inaugurated the Board of Peace during a signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Speaking before a global audience, Trump declared the board would be “one of the most consequential bodies ever created in the history of the world,” asserting it would be able to “do pretty much whatever we want to do” once fully formed.

Trump emphasized that the initiative was “not the United States — this is for the world,” and said the board could eventually expand beyond Gaza to address other global conflicts, even as he pledged to work “in conjunction with the United Nations.”

"Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do. And we'll do it in conjunction with the United Nations," Trump said in a statement.

"This isn’t the United States, this is for the world," he added. "I think we can spread it out to other things as we succeed in Gaza."

Trump noted that most of the 59 leaders signed onto the deal are "very popular," but others were "not so popular."

"That's the way it goes," he said.

The Board of Peace was initially conceived as a mechanism to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction but has evolved into a broader international body. It requires $1 billion in contributions for permanent membership, though officials stated this is voluntary.

Up to 25 countries have agreed to join, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Indonesia, Hungary, Morocco, Bahrain, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Argentina, while the UK, France, Norway, Sweden, and Slovenia have declined due to concerns over the board’s mandate, potential undermining of the UN, and the inclusion of leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Putin has indicated interest in contributing $1 billion from frozen Russian assets, pending U.S. approval, while Netanyahu agreed to join after initial criticism of the board’s Palestinian technocratic committee.

Trump’s son-in-law and senior White House adviser, Jared Kushner presented a detailed vision for Gaza’s future during the event Thursday. His slideshow outlined a plan to rebuild the war-torn territory using free market principles, with a focus on security and investment.

Key elements included:

- Demilitarization of Hamas as a prerequisite for reconstruction.

- Construction of 100,000 housing units in Rafah and development of “New Gaza,” featuring high-rise coastal towers.

- Division of Gaza into residential and coastal tourism mixed zones.

- Infrastructure rehabilitation of water, electricity, sewage, hospitals, and bakeries.

- A projected timeline for rapid urban development, citing regional examples where cities of two to three million people were built in three years.

Kushner also emphasized that “everyone wants to live peacefully” and called for a shift in mindset among regional actors. He was joined on stage by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, among others, forming a “founding executive council” of the board.

Ali Shaath, head of a future technocratic Palestinian government based in Cairo, announced the Rafah border crossing will open in both directions next week, a key step in humanitarian access.

Critics of the board, including international relations scholars and European officials, argue it risks rendering the UN obsolete and creating a Trump-led global authority. The UN Security Council had previously endorsed elements of Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, but the board’s charter appears to diverge from UN principles.

The U.K. has yet to join the board because the legal treaty "brings up much broader issues," Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said.

"And we do also have concerns about President Putin being part of something which is talking about peace, when we have still not seen any signs from Putin that there will be a commitment to peace in Ukraine," Cooper told the BBC.

President Donald Trump delivered a high-stakes address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, where he renewed push for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

Trump declared he was seeking “immediate negotiations” to discuss the U.S. acquisition of Greenland, arguing it as essential for national security and Arctic dominance. He said the U.S. could have retained control of the territory after deploying troops during World War II to prevent Nazi occupation, calling it a “piece of ice” that Denmark should be willing to sell.

In a major shift from earlier rhetoric, Trump ruled out the use of military force, saying: “I won’t use force. I don’t want to use force. We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force… but I won’t do that.”

Following a “very productive meeting” with **NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump announced that a “framework of a future deal” had been formed regarding Greenland and the entire Arctic Region. He confirmed he would drop his threat to impose 10% tariffs on eight European nations and NATO members unless they supported the Greenland deal, citing the new framework as a reason to halt the trade pressure.

Trump named Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to lead negotiations.

The Greenland issue had escalated over the past two weeks, with Trump threatening 10% tariffs on eight European nations unless they backed his acquisition push. The Davos summit became a flashpoint in U.S.-European relations, with allies expressing alarm over Trump’s transactional foreign policy.

Trump has long argued that U.S. ownership of Greenland is vital for national security, citing its strategic Arctic location and potential for critical minerals. He's also referenced the U.S. military presence during WWII as justification.

Danish officials emphasized that the issue must be resolved through diplomacy and respect for Greenland’s right to self-determination. Greenland’s leaders expressed concern over being excluded from talks.

In the speech, Trump also launched a scathing critique of European values, noting that “certain places in Europe are not recognizable anymore” due to “unchecked mass migration, endless foreign imports, and ever-increasing government spending.” He demanded that Europe change its course on immigration, energy policy, and cultural direction, warning: “If they don’t change, bad things will happen.”

The president compared U.S. interest in Greenland to Europe’s historical imperial expansion, suggesting his request was a legitimate, modern-day economic and strategic move.

Trump's push sparked fierce opposition from Denmark, Greenland’s government, and allies like Canada and France. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a blunt speech warning that Trump’s actions threaten the global order, calling Trump's policies “a rupture, not a transition,” and strongly opposed tariffs over Greenland.

Denmark’s former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen dismissed the U.S. interest as a “weapon of mass distraction,” warning that military action would end NATO and benefit autocrats like Russian and Chinese presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

During a meeting with Trump in Davos Wednesday, NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte, affirmed Europe's commitment: he reassured the president that NATO would defend the U.S. if attacked, countering Trump’s earlier remarks casting doubts about alliance reliability.

The White House defended Trump’s repeated references to “Iceland” in the speech, noting it was a 'typo' for “Greenland,” and that his remarks were based on a draft that described Greenland as a “piece of ice.”

In the speech, Trump praised U.S. economic strength, claiming the country is “keeping the whole world afloat,” and criticized Europe for underpaying for U.S. prescription drugs, citing a hilarious private negotiation with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Trump promoted his “20-point plan” to end the Israel-Hamas conflict, proposing a Board of Peace with $1 billion membership fees and permanent U.S. chairmanship, even after his presidency.

The U.S. president also pushed for U.S. congressional action on housing affordability, capping credit card interest rates at 10%, and banning large institutional investors from buying single-family homes.

At one point during his speech, Trump mocked President Macron, who had rejected his invitation to join the proposed Board of Peace.

Macron had delivered a strong rebuke the day before, calling U.S. threats to impose tariffs on French wine and champagne — to pressure Europe into allowing the U.S. to buy Greenland — as “fundamentally unacceptable.” He pledged France would stand up to “bullies” and reject “the law of the strongest.

Speaking to the global elites, Trump said: “I watched him yesterday, with those beautiful sunglasses. What the hell happened?” — drawing laughter from the audience.

The sunglasses, a pair of large, mirrored, blue-tinted aviators, were worn by Macron during his keynote address on Tuesday, despite being indoors. The move sparked widespread attention and viral memes, with many joking about a speculation he was beat up by his "wife" Brigitte Macron who many believe was born a man.

The real reason behind the sunglasses, Macron claimed, was a medical issue, he had recently suffered a ruptured blood vessel in his right eye, which caused swelling and sensitivity to light. His office said the sunglasses were worn for eye protection, not fashion. The French President had previously joked about the injury, comparing his bloodshot eye to the “Eye of the Tiger.”

Despite the mockery, Trump said he “actually likes” Macron, highlighting the complex mix of personal rapport and geopolitical rivalry.