Kremlin says Putin received mysterious invitation from Trump, then the president is asked about it and drops a bombshell answer

President Trump announced a major diplomatic move while talking to reporters at the College Football National Championship Game in Florida. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join the new “Board of Peace.” This committee will oversee the massive rebuilding and removal of weapons plan for Gaza after two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas.

According to Fox News, Trump confirmed Putin’s invitation to the board, simply saying, “Yeah, he’s been invited.” The committee is led by President Trump and is part of an American plan backed by the United Nations to bring stability to the region. Trump has called it “the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled.”

The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed that Putin received the invitation through official channels. The Kremlin is now reviewing the offer and waiting for more details from the US. Putin’s possible involvement is very important because he has been largely left out of international projects since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Trump threatens huge tariffs after France declines board membership

The biggest drama came when Trump was asked about French President Emmanuel Macron turning down his invitation. Trump responded with a threat of immediate economic punishment. “Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon,” Trump said about Macron. Then he added, “I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join. But he doesn’t have to join.”

The White House hasn’t released a full list of members yet, but invitations and confirmations are coming out from different countries. Several leaders have been confirmed as members, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Israel was also invited to join as a founding member.

Trump sent invitations to many other world leaders. These include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some countries have already accepted, including Morocco, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary, and Argentina. Even President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, who is Putin’s closest ally and often called Europe’s last dictator, received an invitation.

The board has an unusual payment system, and the financial requirements are causing controversy. Countries that pay $1 billion get a permanent seat on the committee. Countries that don’t pay the $1 billion will get a three-year term instead. A US official confirmed all money raised will go directly to rebuilding Gaza. The official added there won’t be “exorbitant salaries and massive administrative bloat that plagues many other international organizations.”

Not everyone is happy about the Board of Peace. France’s decision not to participate led to Trump’s tariff threat. A French official said the issue raises questions about respect for the principles and structure of the United Nations. 

Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee warned that the body “would have a mandate wider than the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan.” She said the UN already has the authority to handle international peace and security, and that international law is very important right now. Democrats are also divided on Trump’s immigration enforcement approach as these diplomatic developments unfold.