The list of Donald Trump’s failed business enterprises, including six bankruptcies, is long and tedious. Here are just a few, not including the numerous hotel and casino fiascos:

> Trump Airlines (1989-92) (defaulted on loans)
> Trump Mortgage (2006-07)
> Trump Vodka (2006-11)
> Trump Steaks (2007)
> GoTrump.com (2006-07) (travel search engine)
> Trump University (2005-10) (settled $25 million in fraud law suits)
> The Trump Network (2009-12) (selling supplements and urine tests)
> Trump Magazine (1997-2009)
> Trump: The Game (1989 & 2004) (a Monopoly wannabe)
> Trump Ice (2000s) – Bottled water
> Tour de Trump (1989-90) (an imitation Tour de France)
> New Jersey Generals (1980s)

In other words, the man who claimed to be the world’s preeminent businessman; who published the supposedly authoritative “The Art of the Deal” as though he knew what he was talking about; and who still claims to be smarter than Vladimir Putin . . . that man has destroyed practically everything he touched.

And now he is inviting world leaders to join his so-called “Board of Peace.” Originally touted as a limited group with a mandate to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, its stated purpose has quickly expanded to include settlement of conflicts throughout the world, presumably based on his alleged success in ending eight “wars” thus far. Oddly, the draft of its charter, as sent with the invitations to the various countries’ leaders, is said to make no reference to Gaza at all.

It is, bluntly, Donald Trump’s attempt at achieving immortality.

His presidential term is finite, with just three years to go and no third term possible. What will happen to him then? Will he retire gracefully, like Harry Truman? Take up good works, like Jimmy Carter? Be sought out for his statesmanlike wisdom, like his nemesis Barack Obama?

Or will he end up, finally, in prison when he is no longer immune from prosecution of all of those pesky felony convictions?

None of those roles would suit the man who must always be the center of the Universe. But if he were to have his own organization, potentially eclipsing the United Nations . . . well, that might suffice.

And so he has formed the nucleus of a Board comprised of Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Mark Carney, Tony Blair, Marc Rowan, Ajay Banga and Robert Gabriel, with himself as Chairman. Hoping to sign on at least 35 countries at this week’s World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, he attracted fewer than 20.

Thus far, those who have formally declined include Denmark, France, Norway, Slovenia (his wife’s native country), Sweden and Belgium. Some 28 diverse countries that have received invitations — including Russia, China, Canada, Switzerland, Ukraine, Belarus, the United Kingdom, and the Vatican (yes, the Vatican!) — have not yet responded.

But at least 20 others have joined. Not surprisingly, the list reads like a Who’s Who of autocracies: Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. [Source: Meg Hilling, News Nation, January 22, 2026.]

It is not yet known how many, if any, have agreed to pay the $1 billion optional contribution for a permanent membership. Perhaps countries like Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia can afford to gamble that kind of money on a risky (to say the least) Trump venture; but I hope the others are smart enough to go for the free three-year introductory offer.

*. *. *

Is this Trump’s last stand: his mad desire to rule the world? Or is it just another manifestation of his envy of Vladimir Putin, whose BRICS — founded in 2009 as a counterpoint to western economic dominance — now boasts of a membership representing a quarter of the global economy and nearly half of the world’s population?

Perhaps he envisions the two groups working in tandem, one in the economic sphere and the other politically oriented. Or maybe he hasn’t thought that far ahead.

At this point, nothing would surprise me. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t worry me.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/23/26