The administration of US President Donald Trump is urging countries to pay $1 billion to remain members of a newly proposed US-led Peace Council, according to a report by Bloomberg, a claim the White House has strongly disputed.
The report said Trump is expected to chair the council during its inaugural term, with each country’s membership lasting up to three years, renewable at the president’s discretion under the council’s proposed charter.
The White House described the Bloomberg report as “misleading,” stressing that there is no minimum membership fee required to join the Peace Council.
“This simply grants permanent membership to partner countries that demonstrate a deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity,” the White House said in a statement.
Asked by Reuters about the alleged $1 billion figure, the US State Department referred to previous social media posts by Trump and his special envoy Steve Witkoff, none of which mentioned a specific amount.
Diplomats said several world leaders received invitations on Saturday to join the US-led Peace Council initiative, which is initially focused on ending the war in Gaza, with plans to later expand its mandate to address other global conflicts.
On Friday, the White House announced the names of several council members, confirming that the body would continue operating beyond its role in overseeing Gaza’s temporary administration, amid a fragile ceasefire in place since October.
The announced members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump himself is set to chair the council, according to a plan unveiled by the White House in October.
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