Donald Trump made a bizarre comment as he veered off the script during Thursday’s Board of Peace key meeting. The US President mentioned Paraguayan President Santiago Peña while delivering a speech at the launch of the initiaive, and decided to make a remark about the politician’s youth and appearance.

While addressing the gathering at the multi-national event in Washington DC, Mr Trump said: “It’s always nice to be young and handsome. It doesn’t mean we have to like you. I don’t like young, handsome men. Women — I like. Men, I don’t have any interest.” The comment came as dozens of world leaders and national delegations are in Washington DC on Thursday for the inaugural meeting of Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.

Santiago Peña Palacios is a Paraguayan economist and politician who has served as the 52nd President of Paraguay since August 2023. He was born in Asunción, making him one of the youngest presidents in the country’s democratic era.

Peña studied economics at the Catholic University of Asunción before completing a Master’s in Public Administration at Columbia University in New York.

He began his career at the Central Bank of Paraguay, where he worked from 2000 to 2009 on monetary and financial policy, and later entered government, serving as Minister of Finance from 2015 to 2017. Originally affiliated with the PLRA, he joined the Colorado Party in 2016.

Peña has been married to architect Leticia Ocampos for more than 25 years, and they have two children, Gonzalo and Constanza. As president, he has prioritised economic stability, the strengthening of Paraguay’s international relationships, and the modernisation of public institutions, a focus that reflects his reputation as a technocratic leader with a strong economic background.

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The White House has signalled that the summit for Trump’s newly formed council, held at the renamed Donald J Trump Institute of Peace, will serve largely as a fundraising event.

Speaking before delegates from nearly 50 nations, President Trump told the inaugural Board of Peace meeting on Thursday that nine countries had agreed to contribute a combined $7 billion to a relief package for Gaza.

He revealed that the pledges came from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait.