Monday, October 13, 2025 - U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned whether former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair would serve on a new "Board of Peace" intended to oversee the governance of Gaza, citing ongoing criticisms of Blair for his ‘role’ in the Iraq War.
"I've always liked Tony, but I want
to find out that he's an acceptable choice to everybody," Trump said,
without naming specific leaders who could be weighing in on his choice of
Blair.
A Gaza peace plan floated by the White
House last month listed Blair as a member of the proposed board, which would
manage the territory's reconstruction and administration until a reformed
Palestinian Authority is ready to take over.
Trump made his remarks to reporters
aboard Air Force One during a flight to Israel. He is scheduled to address the
Knesset on Monday and plans to attend a world leaders' summit in Egypt aimed at
formally ending the Gaza war, as a ceasefire now enters its fourth day.
Israelis are awaiting the planned
release of the remaining 20 hostages still believed to be alive and held by
Hamas since October 7, 2023, when the militant group's attacks triggered the
devastating Gaza war.
The Board of Peace will get up and
running quickly, Trump said, but he sounded uncertain about whether Blair would
be well received by everyone involved. "I want to find out that Tony would
be popular with all because I just don't know that," Trump said.
The notion of putting Blair on the board
sparked disbelief among Palestinian politicians and analysts, and among members
of his own Labour Party in Britain, where his reputation suffered from his
decision to back the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Following that U.S.-led invasion, the
claims by the United States and Britain that Iraq held weapons of mass
destruction were ultimately shown to be false.
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