At a gathering of business leaders, Donald Trump made controversial comments, hinting that at times, having a dictator in charge is necessary. These statements were made during his interactions with global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he proposed the creation of a “Board of Peace.”
Although the Board’s stated purpose is to promote peace in the Middle East, concerns are rising that it could become an authoritarian alternative to the United Nations. A proposed constitution for the organization assigns Trump a lifetime chairmanship and full control over the $1 billion membership fee. Notably, several signatory nations are led by authoritarian leaders with strong right-wing tendencies, including Argentina, Bahrain, Egypt, Hungary, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
Countries like France, Norway, Slovenia, Italy, and Sweden have declined membership, while others like the UK, China, Germany, and Russia have yet to make a decision. Among the 20 countries that have signed up, only Argentina and Israel are classified as “free” according to the Freedom House’s 2025 report. The majority of the remaining countries have varying degrees of limitations on political and civil rights.
During a meeting with CEOs at the summit, Trump defended his speech, claiming it was well-received and labeled as “common sense” rather than dictatorial. He expressed optimism about the Board’s future, stating that around 30 countries were expected to join, with invitations extended to approximately 50 nations, although only 18 had confirmed participation thus far.
The Pope and the Holy See were also invited to join the Board of Peace but had not yet confirmed their involvement. When asked if the new board could potentially replace the United Nations, Trump responded affirmatively, suggesting it was a possibility.
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