President Donald Trump raised eyebrows during a White House meeting this week after making a remark about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that many critics viewed as inappropriate and dismissive.
While hosting representatives from more than two dozen countries participating in his newly created “Board of Peace” initiative focused on Gaza’s reconstruction, Trump veered off-topic during his speech. At one point, he referred to Ocasio-Cortez as a “young attractive woman” who, in his telling, struggled to answer questions at the Munich Security Conference. He contrasted her performance with Vice President JD Vance’s academic achievements, saying Vance completed a four-year college program in two years.
Ocasio-Cortez did face scrutiny following the conference over comments related to U.S. policy toward Taiwan and a geographic reference involving Venezuela. However, critics of the president argue that reducing a sitting member of Congress to comments about her appearance undermines the seriousness of policy debate.
Trump also made another unusual comment during the event, stating that while it’s “nice to be young and handsome,” he prefers “women” and has no interest in “young handsome men.” The remark drew further attention on social media, with many questioning its relevance to an international diplomatic gathering.
The meeting itself marked the first formal session of the Board of Peace, a body Trump says will oversee Gaza’s rebuilding process following two years of war. Participating countries include Argentina, Albania, Cambodia, Egypt, El Salvador, Hungary, Indonesia, and Israel. Others such as Italy, Greece, South Korea, and the European Union attended in observer roles.
According to Trump, participating nations have pledged $5 billion toward reconstruction efforts. That figure is significantly lower than the roughly $70 billion experts estimate will be required to fully rebuild Gaza.
Some European leaders declined invitations to formally join the board, expressing concerns that the initiative could overlap with or undermine existing United Nations efforts. The U.N. Security Council endorsed Trump’s broader peace framework in November following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and directed the board to remain involved in Gaza through at least 2027.
In recent interviews, Trump has suggested the board’s mission could extend beyond Gaza, saying it may address other global conflicts in the future.
The episode once again highlights the contrast between diplomatic objectives and political rhetoric, as discussions about rebuilding a war-torn region shared headlines with comments that critics argue distracted from the gravity of the moment.
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