
State of the World from NPR Trump inaugurates his 'Board of Peace.' Experts try to pinpoint his global doctrine
Feb 19, 2026
Jackie Northam, NPR international affairs correspondent who explains foreign policy theories. Michelle Kellerman, NPR State Department reporter who covered the Board of Peace and Gaza pledge. They discuss Trump’s $10 billion Gaza rebuilding announcement and the staged pledge event. Analysts debate labels for his global approach, from neo-royalist and personalist styles to madman tactics and realist power politics.
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Board Of Peace Rebuilds Gaza
- President Trump announced $10 billion from the U.S. and $7 billion from other countries to rebuild Gaza under a newly created Board of Peace.
- Congress members questioned the legality and details of how the funds will be managed.
Pledge Drive-Style Presentation
- Michelle Kellerman described the event as staged like a television pledge drive with global figures and even FIFA present.
- She reported on announced recruits for a transitional Palestinian police force and countries pledging troops and police for stabilization.
Security Plans Face Ground Realities
- Organizers named a Palestinian committee and began recruiting 2,000 applicants for a transitional Palestinian police force to operate with Board support.
- Multiple countries signaled contributions to a stabilization force, but Hamas still controls parts of Gaza complicating disarmament.

