Trump boasts about ending wars and ‘obliterating’ Iran’s nuclear facilities as he unveils his Board of Peace at Davos: Live updates

Some of President Donald Trump’s favorite world leaders joined him Thursday at his ‘Board of Peace’ event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Among the heads of state in attendance: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Argentinian President Javier Milei.

Several other countries with close ties to Trump sent representatives, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Notably absent were some of the typical Western leaders aligned with the United States.

Overall, the countries represented onstage Thursday are Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE and Uzbekistan.

Board of peace executive members Jared Kushner and Sir Tony Blair have been pictured embracing one another at Davos ahead of Donald Trump’s signing ceremony.

The President’s son-in-law and Britain’s former Prime Minister are among seven board members who will sit under Trump’s chairmanship.

The founding executive council includes:

• Sir Tony Blair, former British prime minister
• Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
• US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff
• Marc Rowan, CEO of financial firm Apollo Global Management
• Ajay Banga, World Bank Group president
• Robert Gabriel, a US deputy national security adviser.

Before Trump arrives at his ceremony, let’s take a look at his speech yesterday

In a monologue lasting more than an hour on the main stage at Davos, the President raised eyebrows more than once.

From claiming all Europeans would be speaking German ‘and a little Japanese’ to outlandish remarks on windmills, our video team have wrapped up all his bizarre moments.

Watch our video below:

President Donald Trump’s team was spotted arriving Thursday at the Congress Center at the World Economic Summit for the president’s second day at the conference.

Top economic adviser Kevin Hassett was accompanied by longtime aide Margo Martin, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Communications Director Steven Cheung and executive assistant Natalie Harp.

Trump will host a ‘Board of Peace’ event at Davos Thursday morning and then meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before heading back to Washington, D.C.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Switzerland as he prepares to meet Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Speaking yesterday, Trump said he believes Russia and Ukraine are ‘reasonably close’ to a peace deal.

The President said:

We have to get it stopped… I believe they’re at a point now where they can come together and get ‍a deal done. And if they don’t, they’re stupid.

People are gathering in Davos this morning as Donald Trump hosts his board of peace ceremony.

Originally intended to help end the devastating Gaza war but which the President now sees having a wider role that Europe and some others fear will rival or undermine the United ​Nations.

Trump, who will chair the board, has invited dozens of other world leaders to join it and sees the ​grouping addressing other global challenges beyond Gaza, though he does not ​intend it as a replacement for the United Nations, he has said.

Some traditional US allies have balked at joining the board, which Trump says permanent members must help fund with a payment of $1 billion each, either responding cautiously or declining the ⁠invitation.

President Donald Trump may have been late to Davos due to an outdated plane – but he showed off new wheels once on the ground.

CBS News reported that new Cadillac Escalades made their debut in the Trump motorcade during the president’s trip this week to the World Economic Forum.

Trump was seen getting into one of the new black SUVS, adorned with a presidential seal, after disembarking Marine One on Wednesday.

The president’s trip to Switzerland was delayed by several hours Tuesday night when the Air Force One he was traveling on had to turn around due to an electrical problem.

He and his entourage had to swap planes at Joint Base Andrews, with Trump traveling across the Atlantic on the smaller C-32 Air Force One.

Donald Trump last night dropped his threat to invade Greenland following a furious bust–up with Britain and other Nato allies.

Speaking after talks with Nato chief Mark Rutte, the US President said he had agreed ‘the framework of a future deal’ regarding the control of the Arctic island, which he claims is vital for American security.

Mr Trump added that he was suspending plans to slap tariffs on Britain and other countries resisting his Greenland grab.

Markets in the US rallied on his announcement, having climbed on his earlier proclamation that he would not use force to take the ‘big, beautiful piece of ice’.

And the Daily Mail can reveal he is mulling making the inhabitants of Greenland (population 57,000) an offer of $1million each – £750,000 or €850,000 – if they vote to join the United States.

Mark Rutte appeared to have pulled off a diplomatic coup by talking US President Donald Trump down from his Greenland demands – but questions over any deal have left European allies feeling wary.

Trump’s threats over the vast Arctic territory – an autonomous part of NATO member Denmark – had plunged relations between Europe and its key ally Washington into their deepest crisis in decades.

While Europe breathed a sigh of relief that the immediate threat to NATO seemed to have passed, details remains scant on what might have been agreed.

Speaking to the AFP News agency, one EU diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: ‘What is this deal exactly. Trump crossed the Rubicon. He might do it again. There is no coming back to what it was.

A second NATO official added: ‘We are not yet 100 percent out of the woods, but I guess we can say another war was prevented.’

Talks with the US on Greenland will aim to ensure China and Russia do not get military and economic access to the Arctic territory, NATO’s chief has said.

Following talks with Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, last night, Donald Trump backed down on threats to seize Greenland by force, announcing a vague deal aimed at ensuring security of the vast island.

Rutte said one ‘work stream’ to emerge from the meeting was ‘that we ensure that the Chinese and the Russians will not gain access to the Greenland economy’ or militarily.

It comes as Rutte last night delivered a reality check to Trump, telling him that one NATO soldier died for every two Americans in Afghanistan after the US President doubted the Western alliance.

It comes after Trump raised doubts NATO countries would help the US if called upon.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has welcomed Donald Trump withdrawing his threats to impose additional tariffs on European countries over Greenland.

Merz said Trump was right to drop the punishment and insisted Europe will be ready to respond if tariffs were brought in.

He told the audience at Davos, ‘I welcome President Trump’s remarks from last night. This is the right way to go, because any threats to acquire European territory by force would be unacceptable.’

On the threat of extra US tariffs over Greenland, Merz said Europe’s response would be ‘united, calm, measured and firm’.

It comes as Trump last night dropped his tariff threat over Europe after ruling out using force to seize the Arctic territory.

The President said he and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte agreed on a ‘framework’ for a future deal involving Greenland.

The UK is set to snub Donald Trump’s board of peace signing ceremony today amid anger at Vladimir Putin’s involvement.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said there were ‘concerns’ about the invite for the Russian dictator to join the body given his invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Trump is expected to launch the board – which includes Labour ex-PM Tony Blair as an executive member – formally in Davos later. But there are concerns about a new standoff with allies after a tentative solution was found to the bitter spat over his demands for Greenland.

Critics have warned that the organisation – which has a £1billion fee for permanent membership – appears to be an attempt to supplant the UN.

Originally meant to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza after the war between Hamas and Israel, the board’s charter makes no reference to the Middle East crisis.

Key US allies including France and Britain have expressed skepticism but others have signed up, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.