Trump’s Board of Peace Asserts UN Must ‘Run Properly’ Amid Gaza Stabilization Push

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his newly established Board of Peace will work closely with the United Nations to ensure it “runs properly,” while criticizing the international body for failing to meet its potential.

Speaking at the inaugural gathering of the board at the Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace, Trump argued that the UN has “tremendous potential” but has “not lived up to that potential.” He described his initiative as an action-oriented alternative to what he characterized as decades of empty global diplomacy.

The president emphasized that the Board of Peace would help secure a durable postwar plan for Gaza following last fall’s ceasefire. Trump also declared that the war in Gaza is over, pointing to growing international commitments to fund and staff stabilization efforts in the region.

In his remarks, Trump praised special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner for what he called major diplomatic achievements, including the Abraham Accords. However, a State Department official later clarified that while Trump stated Kushner would become “an envoy for peace,” the role is not an official one.

The Board of Peace’s first meeting took place with significant challenges remaining, including Hamas disarmament, Israeli troop withdrawals, humanitarian aid distribution, and the structure of a reconstruction fund expected to require tens of billions of dollars. Despite these unresolved issues, Trump portrayed momentum as building and warned that Hamas would face “harsh consequences” for refusing to disarm.

The initiative has drawn international attention and skepticism, with some U.S. allies choosing not to join the board or participating only as observers. Nevertheless, Trump insisted America is leading efforts to demand accountability from global institutions like the UN, prioritizing measurable results over bureaucracy.