During the inauguration of his newly established Board of Peace, US President Donald Trump balanced humor with serious diplomatic discussions on Thursday, drawing attention with a light-hearted comment about “young, handsome men.” The event took place in Washington, where Trump welcomed Paraguayan President Santiago Pena, who is noted as the youngest president in Paraguay’s democratic era.

As he deviated from his prepared remarks, Trump made the remark, “It’s always nice to be young and handsome. It doesn’t mean we have to like you. I don’t like young, handsome men. Women — I like. Men, I don’t have any interest,” eliciting laughter from attendees.

Financial Commitments to Gaza Reconstruction

Turning back to the primary agenda of the event, Trump emphasized his commitment to Gaza reconstruction, stating, “We will help Gaza. We will straighten it out. We’ll make it successful.” He displayed a document outlining the pledges, coinciding with the playing of the song “YMCA” in the background.

The president announced a significant financial commitment of $10 billion from the United States, despite earlier reductions in foreign aid to other regions. In addition to this, countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have each pledged no less than $1 billion, leading to a total of over $6.5 billion pledged overall, as stated by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Aims for Regional Peace

Trump expressed his aspirations for lasting peace in the region, declaring, “Together we can achieve the dream of bringing lasting harmony to a region tortured by centuries of war and suffering.” This initiative highlights a renewed focus on Middle Eastern geopolitics, positioned within the larger context of recent conflicts involving Israel and Hamas.

Formation of a New Global Body

The Board of Peace was formally established at the former office of the United States Institute of Peace, which has now been restructured and renamed under Trump’s administration. The president will enjoy veto power over board decisions and may retain leadership even after leaving office. For countries wishing to maintain permanent membership beyond a two-year term, a contribution of $1 billion will be required.

This new board is a result of a ceasefire agreement reached in October, facilitated by Egypt and Qatar, amid a protracted conflict between Israel and Hamas. A subsequent phase of this initiative involves the disarmament of Hamas, highlighting an ongoing effort to stabilize the region.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share