President Donald Trump’s grand vision for a new world order has opened to a half-empty room. The inaugural meeting of his controversial "Board of Peace" kicked off in Washington today, attended by a motley crew of populist allies but glaringly devoid of America’s traditional European partners, exposing the deepening rift in the trans-Atlantic alliance.

Billed as the solution to the Gaza war and global instability, the summit at the newly rechristened Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace was a spectacle of "America First" diplomacy. While leaders like Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban were front and centre, the empty chairs of the UK, France, and Germany spoke volumes. These major powers have boycotted the initiative, wary of Trump’s attempt to create a "pay-to-play" rival to the United Nations, where a permanent seat reportedly costs a cool $1 billion.

A League of Their Own

The agenda is ambitious: a $5 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force. Yet, the absence of key stakeholders—including Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and any Palestinian representation—raises serious questions about the board’s legitimacy. "We have the greatest leaders in the world," Trump insisted, brushing off the snub from the G7 nations. The board, granting Trump veto power even after his presidency, is being viewed by critics as a privatization of global diplomacy.

The atmosphere in Washington was a mix of triumphant nationalism and diplomatic awkwardness. Trump’s "Board of Peace" is less a global consensus and more a club of the willing, united by ideology and transactional interests rather than shared democratic values. With a fragile ceasefire in Gaza hanging by a thread, the board’s ability to enforce peace without broad international backing remains the $5 billion question.

• The Boycott: Traditional US allies like Canada and the UK declined invitations, fearing the board undermines the UN Security Council.
• The Buy-In: The $1 billion entry fee for permanent membership has drawn sharp criticism, framing international influence as a commodity for sale.

The Trump Order

This summit marks the formal beginning of Trump’s attempt to rewrite the architecture of international relations in his second term. By sidelining the UN and rallying his populist allies, he is betting that financial might and personal relationships can solve conflicts that multilateralism has failed to end.

The Board of Peace is open for business, but with half the world refusing to buy shares, its stock is already trading on shaky ground.