President Donald Trump convened the inaugural meeting of his newly established Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday, announcing that Norway will host an international conference focused on Palestinian aid as part of ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The meeting, held at the U.S. Institute of Peace, brought together leaders from various nations to discuss peace initiatives in the Middle East. The Board of Peace represents a new framework through which the administration intends to coordinate international efforts toward regional stability and humanitarian assistance.
During his remarks, the president displayed a moment of levity when reading from his prepared notes about Norway’s participation. Upon seeing the Scandinavian nation’s name, Trump paused and quipped that he initially thought the announcement would concern the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
“I’m excited to announce that Norway has agreed to host an event bringing together the Board of Peace. Oh, I thought when I saw this note, I thought they were going to say that they’re giving me the Nobel Prize. Oh, this is less exciting,” the president remarked to the assembled leaders.
He continued with characteristic humor before pivoting to a more serious note. “Oh, it says Norway, and I’m saying, ‘Oh, great, I’m getting the Nobel Prize. Finally, finally, they got it right.’ But I don’t care, I don’t care about the Nobel Prize. I care about saving lives.”
The announcement comes as the administration works to rebuild Gaza while maintaining that progress hinges on the complete disarmament of Hamas. This condition has been presented as non-negotiable in the president’s approach to Palestinian aid and reconstruction efforts.
Norway’s role as host for the aid conference reflects the nation’s historical involvement in Middle Eastern peace processes. The Scandinavian country has long maintained diplomatic relationships across the region and has previously facilitated dialogue between conflicting parties.
The Board of Peace initiative represents a departure from traditional diplomatic frameworks, bringing together international stakeholders under a new organizational structure designed to streamline decision-making and coordinate humanitarian responses more effectively.
The president’s comments about the Nobel Peace Prize, while delivered in jest, touched upon a subject that has generated discussion throughout his political career. Several of his supporters have advocated for his nomination based on various diplomatic achievements, including the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations during his first term.
The Norwegian-hosted conference will focus specifically on mechanisms for delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinian territories while ensuring that such assistance does not benefit militant organizations. Details regarding the timing and specific participants in the Norway meeting have not yet been released.
As the administration moves forward with its Middle East agenda, the Board of Peace will serve as the primary vehicle for coordinating international efforts, with member nations expected to contribute both diplomatic resources and humanitarian assistance to the region.
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