Trump Praises Prabowo as ‘Tough’ at Board of Peace Meeting

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump praised Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as a “tough” figure during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace (BoP) in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, February 19, 2026. The meeting focused on a reconstruction plan for Gaza and the formation of a Board of Peace-led International Stabilisation Force as reported by ABC News.

Trump’s Remarks

“A man that I really like a lot, he is definitely tough, I don’t wanna fight him, President Prabowo of Indonesia,” Trump stated in his opening speech. He further described Prabowo as a “big guy” and highlighted Indonesia’s significance as a nation, noting its population of approximately 240 million.

Prabowo’s Objectives

President Prabowo, who arrived for the meeting on Thursday, emphasized the importance of the Board of Peace in achieving a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and pursuing a resolution to the Palestinian issue. He stated, “As you know, I am here at the invitation of the President of the United States for a very important meeting of the Board of Peace. This is the first official meeting of the council which was formed to handle the implementation and sustainability of the ceasefire in Gaza. We are trying to continue paving the way towards a real and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.” according to Politico.

Indonesia’s Role and Concerns

Indonesia’s decision to join Trump’s Board of Peace has faced domestic criticism, with concerns raised about the rushed nature of the decision and its potential alignment with U.S. And Israeli interests as noted by ABC News. Prabowo previously explained his rationale for joining the Board, viewing it as a “historic opportunity” to secure peace in Gaza as reported by Tempo.co.

International Representation

The Board of Peace meeting included representatives from over 20 countries, with leaders standing alongside Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Prabowo was seen standing in the front row next to Argentine President Javier Gerardo Milei.

Progress in Gaza

Prabowo asserted that the situation in Gaza has improved, with increased humanitarian aid reaching the Palestinian people according to Tempo.co.

Indonesia is also preparing thousands of peacekeeping troops for potential deployment as part of the Board of Peace-led International Stabilisation Force as reported by the New York Times.