Donald Trump’s newly launched “board of peace” already has a logo – and perceptive eyes have noted its close resemblance to the United Nations emblem, except reworked in Trump fashion: all in gold, and focused squarely on the US.
Launched this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the initiative was first endorsed back in November by the UN security council, on the understanding that it would focus on brokering a ceasefire in Gaza. Since then, however, Trump has positioned it as a global body tasked with resolving international conflicts of all stripes, and to be chaired by Trump himself, in what appears to be part of the administration’s latest effort to reshape the postwar global order.
Several European countries have said that they will not join the board, some expressing concerns that the initiative could seek to sideline or replace the UN.
Speaking in Davos on Wednesday, Trump suggested that the “board of peace”, which requires countries to pay $1bn in cash to become a permanent member, would “work with” the UN to end global conflict.
“Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do, and we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations,” Trump said.
On social media, however, people were quick to notice that board of peace’s new logo resembles the UN one, with both including a globe with olive branches on each side. Where the UN logo shows a map of the whole world, however, Trump’s shows only North America and some parts of South America, such as Venezuela, where he has attempted to assert US control.
The color, too, is different: the UN’s neutral blue contrasts with the board of peace’s bright gold, an aesthetic consistent with Trump’s personal style. Last year he added what he called “Trump touches” to the Oval Office, installing gold trimming across the ceiling, door frames and fireplace, as well as gold trophies and vases, and even gold drinks coasters bearing his own name.
At the time, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, described it as a “golden office for the golden age”, and a spokesperson insisted the gold was “of the highest quality” and was paid for personally by Trump. It was also reported that he enlisted his “gold guy”, as one of Trump’s advisers described him – a cabinet maker from Florida who has worked on Mar-a-Lago and Trump’s Palm Beach club.
Trump even installed a new sign reading “Oval Office” in cursive gold script that appeared to be printed on paper and stuck to the wall.
The US president’s obsession with gold has extended beyond just decor. In June, the Trump Organization unveiled a mobile phone service and $499 gold smartphone and in December, he announced the $1m “gold card” visa for wealthy foreigners. Foreign leaders have leaned in: in February, it was reported that Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, gave Trump a “golden pager” – an apparent reference to Israel’s 2024 deadly attack against Hezbollah in Lebanon – and in August the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, gifted Trump an engraved glass disk with a base that the Washington Post reported was made from 24-karat gold. In November, meanwhile, a group of Swiss billionaires gave him a gold Rolex desk clock and a $130,000 engraved gold bar – after which Trump agreed to slash tariffs on Switzerland from 39% to 15%.
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