Working with Peace Board will be good, says Trump
Trump says Gaza Peace Board could replace UN, claiming world body failed its promise to bring real peace
U.S. President Donald Trump has once again questioned the effectiveness of the United Nations while expressing optimism about working with the Board of Peace, particularly on the issue of Gaza. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos to Joint Base Andrews, Mr. Trump said collaboration with the Board of Peace would be a “good thing” for the United Nations, which he argued has consistently failed to live up to its vast potential.
According to Mr. Trump, the Board of Peace could play a constructive role not only in Gaza but also in other global trouble spots. He suggested that its scope of work may eventually expand beyond the current conflict, offering fresh approaches where traditional international mechanisms have struggled. “It’s going to do great work with Gaza,” he said, adding that its mandate could extend to “maybe other things… beyond Gaza.”
While striking an encouraging note about cooperation, Mr. Trump did not hold back in his criticism of the United Nations. He reiterated a long-standing view that the global body, despite its lofty ideals and broad membership, has underperformed. “I’ve always said the United Nations has great potential, great potential,” he remarked, before bluntly adding that it has “not lived up to” that promise.
Mr. Trump’s comments reflect his broader skepticism toward multilateral institutions, which he has often accused of inefficiency, excessive bureaucracy, and a lack of tangible results. At the same time, his remarks suggest a willingness to work within or alongside the UN framework if new initiatives, such as the Board of Peace, can deliver concrete outcomes on the ground.
The President’s focus on Gaza underscores the urgency of finding alternative or complementary pathways to address long-running conflicts. He implied that fresh leadership structures and clearer accountability could help break diplomatic deadlocks that have persisted for decades. By positioning the Board of Peace as a potential partner rather than a rival, Mr. Trump framed it as a way to strengthen, rather than sideline, the United Nations.
However, his earlier suggestion that the Board of Peace “might” even replace the UN has raised eyebrows among diplomats and analysts, many of whom see the United Nations as irreplaceable despite its flaws. Critics argue that while reform is necessary, abandoning the UN would risk weakening international cooperation at a time of growing global instability.
Mr. Trump’s latest remarks, delivered in his characteristically candid style, highlight a familiar tension in his foreign policy approach: frustration with existing institutions combined with confidence in alternative, deal-driven solutions. Whether the Board of Peace can meaningfully improve outcomes in Gaza—and whether it can coexist productively with the United Nations—remains to be seen. What is clear is that Mr. Trump intends to keep pressing for results, even if it means challenging the world’s most established diplomatic structures.